By Micah Roberts
Every week, a group of dedicated mentors from Indiana Wesleyan enters Frances Slocum Elementary School with a goal of building relationships that make a difference in students’ lives.
Kid’s Hope is a national mentoring organization that partners with local churches to provide one-on-one mentoring for children in public schools.
The program matches adult/college mentors with students who can benefit from extra support and encouragement. These mentors meet with their students for one hour each week during the school day.
“It’s really about showing these kids that someone cares about them and believes in them,” Brad Allen, a Kids Hope mentor at Francis Slocum said. “Even just an hour a week can make a big difference in their confidence and happiness.”
For some students, this is the only one-on-one time they receive with an adult outside of home or the classroom.
“We’re here to love and be a consistent presence in their lives,” Vickie Conrad, the Kids Hope director for Frances Slocum Elementary said. “Sometimes just being around someone each week gives the kids encouragement and the strength they didn’t know they needed.”
Teachers and school staff said that they have also noticed the difference the mentors are making. Many students who participate in Kid’s Hope show improvements in their classroom behavior, confidence, and attitude toward learning.
“I’ve seen the students light up when they see their mentors, even on days when they aren’t feeling the best,” Hannah Lindsay, a teacher at Frances Slocum said. “It gives them something to look forward to and allows them to feel valued.”
Kid’s Hope continues to seek new mentors from the community who are willing to invest their time and care into the next generation.
Thomas Harding 
Lauren Siegers