LCC Teammate program encourages area residents to get involved
— Diana Badley
Laurel Advocate
LAUREL — “I’ll reach out my hand to you; I’ll have faith in all you do; Just call my name and I’ll be there.” Jackson 5 released the number one hit “I’ll Be There” in the fall of 1970. Though it was meant to be a feel-good love song, the message is fitting for many relationships from friendships to mentorships.
TeamMates Mentoring Program has adopted the slogan, “Be there.” This simple motto shares the simplistic side of mentoring. Mentoring can be an intimidating thing. TeamMates wants you to know that in the purest way, your biggest responsibility is not making sure your mentee gets good grades, is a successful athlete, or wins first prize in competitions. Your greatest commitment is to simply be there.
The Laurel-Concord-Coleridge TeamMates Chapter has a new co-coordinator and match facilitator, Sherie Lundahl.
Lundahl’s many duties will include finding caring adults within the community to invest one time per week in a student, coordinating communication between mentors and mentees, executive board members and the local community, program families and the school, as well as promoting the local chapter at multiple levels.
Dustin Thompson, who serves as a mentor and the LCC TeamMates Board President, encourages others to become mentors. “It is rewarding to mentor because you know that you are helping a kid have some quality one-on-one time with face-to-face interaction that doesn’t always happen nowadays with today’s age of electronics.
Covid-19 has affected the program’s abilities just like it has impacted most everything in the world today. Large group events are currently on hold for the program, however, matches are able to meet with guidelines in place.
This Friday at the LCC versus Wakefield football game, mentors from both schools will be recognized at half time. Earlier in the evening, at 6 p.m. the LCC TeamMates Chapter will host a Tailgate where they are serving Hamburgers, Chips, and Water for Free Will donation. The funds raised will be designated for scholarships that are awarded to mentees who go on to higher education upon graduation.
The program is always in need of more caring adults. If you are interested in becoming a TeamMate mentor, you may go online to www.teammates.org or contact Sherie Lundahl or Alan Gottula at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School.
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