Volunteer

Being a mentor may be one of the most fulfilling things you’ll ever do.  You’ll partner with the Roots & Wings staff to both challenge and support our clients to reach their highest potential.

All mentors must complete an application, background check, and a training session. Mentors must also attend quarterly meetings, which offer additional training and resources. Approved mentors are matched with a young adult and meet a minimum of four hours per month.  Our mentors are asked to commit to at least a one-year term as consistency and stability is so important to our clients.

To support our young people in their educational aspirations, mentors who have networks and expertise in the following industries and their associated occupations are needed:

• Psychology – Case Workers, Child Care Worker, Counselors, Clinical Psychologists
• Sociology – Social Worker, Counselor, HR Representative, Market Research, PR Specialist
• Law Enforcement – Attorney, Police, FBI Agent, Criminal Investigator, Paralegal
• Entertainment – Theatre, Film Studios, Music, TV & Radio, Animator, Artist
• Business – Entrepreneur, Administrator, Management Consultant, Financial Analyst
• Graphic Design – Art or Creative Director, Graphic Designer, Marketing
• Esthetician & Beauty – Medical Esthetician, Dermatologist, Makeup Artist, Beauty Adviser
• Medical – Nurse, Doctor, Pharmacy Technician, Therapist
• Fashion – Designers, Illustrators, Stylist, Textile designers, Retail Buyer
• Personal Fitness & Health – Nutritionists, Fitness Trainers

We are always seeking tutors to meet with the young adults in our program on a one to one basis in a variety of subjects. We have clients at different levels of education including high school, vocational training, and college.

• Seek donations for client wish lists.
• Possibly set up Giving Tree in local businesses for donations.
• Solicit local organizations– churches, women’s groups, etc. for donations, including money for party and gift
  cards.

• Organize/solicit donations for the back to school gift drive for client’s “care packages” (i.e. non-perishable foods, school supplies, Staples Gift Cards).

• Maintain a food pantry and supply pantry at home base.
• Maintain a list of acceptable items.
• Find groups (Girl Scouts, etc.) to organize food/supply drives.
• Work at home base 1 day per month for donor drop-off or pantry organization.

• Identify/solicit businesses to run independent fundraisers, benefiting Roots & Wings. Examples include: salons (cuta-thons), restaurants ( dininng night benefits), and stores (shopping day benefits)

• Meet once a month as a committee.
• Fundraise for Roots & Wings.

•  Auction Committee: soliciting live and silent auction
  items.
• Dinner Committee: Planning the Oktoberfest event.

• Planning and fundraising for the event.

• Meets once a month to support Union County based
  initiatives.

• Practice interview skills with clients.
• Help advocate and find local jobs and internships.

• Provide technical support and help with clients’ computers.

• Teach a session on a particular life-skill topic to clients.

Mentor Application

Thank you for your interest in mentoring a young adult who has aged out of foster care.

Due to the close relationship that often forms between a mentor and mentee, we have designed this application to get a sense of who you are as a person, including your strengths and any potential conflicts with our mission to serve young adults aged out of the foster care system. This application, combined with an interview and background check, help us identify strong community volunteers who can make a difference in a young person’s life.