Mentors & Meals (M&Ms)
The primary goal of M&Ms is to enhance academic achievement by providing mentoring (tutoring/homework help) as well as a hot meal for Woodford County middle school students utilizing peer mentors from the local high school along with college interns and qualified adult volunteers. The program is available from 3:30-5:30, Monday through Thursday, with a “student reward night” (movie and pizza) once per quarter.
When: M&Ms September 12, 2011 through May 17, 2012
Where: FCC-Life Center (across from CVS pharmacy, 160 Lexington Road, Versailles)
Why: Locally over 43% of children in Woodford County qualify for the “free and reduced” lunch program which means many middle school students may be getting breakfast and lunch at school but very little in the evening. Nationally, 1 out of 4 children are alone and un-supervised after school. By providing a hot meal and help with homework it has been proven that study habits, overall health and school performance can be improved. M&Ms provides both an academically focused after-school program and a hot, home-cooked meal for the middle school age group in Woodford County to address one or both of these concerns.
Needed:
- High School Mentors: community service hours available 3:30-5:30, Monday-Thursday.
- Adult Volunteers: able to be present from 3:30-5:30 (1 or more days/week or /month)
- Cooks and Clean Up Crew: folks willing to get their online “Food Handlers License” and get their hands dirty in the kitchen.
- Administrative help: assistance in managing attendance and service hours
- Guest Speakers in the areas of Fitness, Career/Community, Arts&Entertainment
- Funding or Donations- for ongoing sustainability of the M&Ms program.
More info? Program Director, Lisa Johnson
Phone or text: 859-552-6873
Email: lisa@mentors-meals.org
Tax Deductible Donations can be sent to: “M&Ms” 710 Pisgah Pike, Versailles, KY 40383
Outcomes: During the 8 week pilot program (March 28-May 27, 2011) middle school students were matched with high school mentors/role models for homework help. At the end of the semester, 36 out of 40 students who attended the program showed improvement in their grades (that’s a 90% success rate!). The overall group GPA increased from 2.4 to 2.7 in the 4th quarter vs the 3rd quarter. In addition, 26 adults volunteered 327 hours, 30 high school mentors collectively dedicated over 430 community service hours through their involvement in the M&Ms program and 700 meals were served.
