Read three Kids Hope USA stories and discover the transformative moments that take place in one-on-one mentoring relationships.
You know the kind of story that makes you pause and think, I want to be part of something like that? We hear those stories all the time at Kids Hope USA. As a nonprofit mentoring organization, these stories fuel our mission and confirm why we do what we do. They’re stories about real people, real moments, and real impact. Testimonies have a way of inspiring others to join the mission. Take a look at these stories to better understand the impact of one-on-one mentoring relationships.
Faithful & Patient Love
Sally was a tiny first grader who could clear a classroom by throwing desks and chairs across the room. But her mentor, Ms. Karla, stayed by her side—faithfully and patiently loving her through every mood and meltdown.
Today, Sally is a junior in high school. She’s been a varsity cheerleader and wrestler for three years. She and her family have joined the church, and she now spends Spring Break on a week-long mission trip with the youth group. And someday, she hopes to become a Kids Hope USA mentor herself.
Getting the Care That’s Needed
There was a young student who told his mentor that at the school-sponsored dental cleaning, he was told he had an abscess under one tooth. His mom didn’t have money to take him to a dentist, so she had been putting it off.
God directed the Kids Hope USA mentor, with the help of the church, to a dentist who works well with children like this. Unfortunately, he needed two crowns and six extractions that required a surgeon. His dentist discounted his cost, his mom paid what she could, and the partner church picked up the rest of the bill. The surgeon then donated all of his costs associated with the surgery.
This little guy was out of school for a couple of weeks but is back now and is as happy as ever! The Kids Hope USA program was so thrilled to be able to help facilitate getting him the care he needed and amazed at how the dentist and the surgeon helped to cover the costs for this single mom.
Matching Pace
Cameron was in third grade this year. He really struggled in class with focusing and following directions. When his mentor, Amy, came to his school every Thursday, he would run ahead of her to the cafeteria, leaving her to walk the hallway alone. He would quickly grab his lunch and race to the library, again leaving her to catch up. Once they sat down in the library, he would rush through his lunch and throw it in the trash, eager to go outside. Amy frequently followed along behind. She would often wonder if Cameron wanted her there at all.
About halfway through the school year, Amy began to notice that Cameron stopped running through the hall. Each week, it seemed that he began slowing down a bit more. In the spring, he would walk alongside her, matching her pace as they went outside to play. By the end of the year, Cameron would immediately leave his classroom, hug his mentor, and walk down the hallway together, each joking with one another the entire way to the cafeteria.
This may seem small — however, this is what a mentoring relationship can often feel like. Two people who start off at different paces but end up walking together throughout the journey.
Get Involved and Share Kids Hope USA Stories
Kids Hope USA stories like these truly help to fuel our mission. If you would like to get involved, learning more about us is a great next step. Contact us today to connect with our team and figure out how you can best be a part of this mission!