JUMP Program Members Learn the Basics of Sketching at Little Mexico

The JUMP program, which is a mentoring program for kids, is back to regular monthly group activities! After some hit and miss months during the worst part of the Pandemic, things are opening back up and the mentors and mentees can once again get together each month to experience new things and have some fun!

Last Saturday, the members of the JUMP program met at the Crawfordsville District Public Library to participate in a “Draw with Me” class presented by Linda Brady. Jill Hampton, the JUMP Program Manager stated, “It is amazing how well you can sketch if you have someone knowledgeable and patient to show you the way. Linda Brady did a fantastic job guiding us through the process of sketching trees in bloom. While all of the sketches looked a little bit different, they were all great. I was glad to see the adults and kids were both having such a good time!

Following the art class, the JUMP program headed to Little Mexico for lunch and had a chance to visit with each other and enjoy a great meal. Some of the kids had never experienced Mexican food so this was their chance to try some new things! That is one of the benefits of being a part of the JUMP program is seeing different lifestyles and trying new things. This applies to both the mentors and the mentees.

Since the Pandemic began, things have changed for all of us but particularly for the kids. They have been more isolated than ever before. The one thing that hasn’t changed is the need for kids to have as many positive roles models as possible to spend time with them. The waiting list for kids wanting a mentor continues to grow. The need for adult volunteers is real and can come in many forms. It can be a male or female mentoring one on one or a married couple mentoring a child together. It is a fun way to give back to the community!

If you would like to volunteer to become a mentor and a friend to a child on the waiting list, please contact Jill Hampton. Her email is [email protected] or call 362-0694 ext. 103.

To learn more about the Montgomery County Youth Service Bureau, visit www.mcysb.org or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcysb.org.

The Montgomery County Youth Service Bureau is a United Way Partner Agency.