North Fayette Valley Mentoring

09/18/2026

"I have questions, but I don't know who to ask."

Well, if you know a current or previous mentor, I know they are more than happy to give you the scoop! Or come to me, Jen Stolka. I am the NFV Mentoring Coordinator and am happy to give you all the details and help work through any concerns you may have.

Reach out anytime! [email protected] or (563) 380-9216.

09/17/2026

Here are some thoughts on these concerns...

"I'm afraid I won't be good at it." - You don’t have to be perfect—you just need to be yourself, show up, and be someone a child can count on. Every match and relationship is different, and you’ll find what works for you and your mentee. We’ll support you along the way!

"I don't want to make a commitment I can't keep." - That’s understandable. We want you to feel confident in the commitment before you sign up. Mentoring is about consistency, not perfection, and we’ll work with you to make sure the commitment fits your schedule.

To learn more contact Jen [email protected] or (563) 380-9216. Celeste and Emma have really found what works for them!

09/16/2026

Moving along on answering questions that may help those who have wanted to learn more about NFV Mentoring....

"I'm worried about transportation or getting together." - We work with you to find a match that fits your schedule and location. School-based mentoring is even easier—you go to the school during the school day, so there’s no transportation, and you never have to take the child anywhere.

"I'm afraid I won't be good at it." - You don’t have to be an expert—you just need to be willing to show up, listen, have fun, and be yourself. We’ll support you along the way!

Allison and Hadley have it figured out. Contact Jen to keep talking about it. [email protected] or (563) 380-9216.

09/15/2026

Let's keep answer those questions - but we would love to hear your thoughts too, so please feel free to share what is keeping people from signing up to be a mentor?

"I'm not sure what a mentor actually does." - A mentor is simply a supportive adult who spends about 4 hours a month with a young person—hanging out, doing activities, talking, playing games, grabbing a snack, going to an event, or just being someone they can count on. You don’t have to be a counselor, teacher, or have special skills. You’re just a positive adult who shows up, listens, encourages them, and helps them feel supported.

"I'm nervous about being matched with a kid I don't know." - That’s completely normal! We take the time to get to know you and the child before matching, and we’re here to support you along the way. You also get to meet them before you make a decision to be matched!

To keep this discussion going, contact Jen at [email protected] or (563) 380-9216 to learn more about how Holly and Hailey did it!

09/14/2026

Let's answer some of the questions you may have about NFV Mentoring from the previous post:

“I don’t have enough time.” - We strive for 4 hours per month. For school-based mentoring, it is once a week! For community-based mentoring, this can be after work and on weekends, and can be an hour here and there or one outing.

“I wouldn’t know what to do.” - For school-based mentoring, you can eat lunch together, go outside, and play games. For community-based mentoring, it's whatever your interests are...cooking dinner, going for walks, playing games, fishing, crafts, etc.

If you want to join Monica and Kenley and learn more about mentoring, message Jen - let's talk! [email protected] or (563) 380-9216.

09/13/2026

Okay, let’s be honest. What’s REALLY stopping people from becoming a mentor?

We know there are people out there who have thought about mentoring but haven’t taken the next step.

So…tell us why. 👇

Is it…

⏰ “I don’t have enough time.”
😬 “I wouldn’t know what to do.”
🤷 “I’m not sure what a mentor actually does.”
👀 “I’m nervous about being matched with a kid I don’t know.”
🚗 “I’m worried about transportation or getting together.”
❤️ “I’m afraid I won’t be good at it.”
📅 “I don’t want to make a commitment I can’t keep.”
❓ “I have questions, but I don’t know who to ask.”

Or is it something else?

We’re asking you to tell us what’s holding people back, do you think?

What do you wish you knew about mentoring?
What are you worried about?
What have you heard that makes you hesitant?
What question would you want answered before you said yes?

Give us the honest answer—even if it’s “I just don’t know enough about it.”

Your answer might help us figure out what we need to explain better to the next person who is considering becoming a mentor.

Thanks for your thoughts and opinions!

08/30/2026

Ok friends, we got 1 from this post, so let's do it again! NFV Mentoring Program has school-based mentoring where a community member goes into the school once a week to eat lunch, play games, etc., with a student who is a mentee. This is about 45 minutes. We have 6 mentees coming from West Union Elementary to the Valley campus as 4th graders this year....they all had high school mentors last year. (Not to mention the 4 mentees that were already waiting at the Valley campus)! So I need people who are either retired or can take their lunch break and go spend time with a mentee once a week. Please let me know if you are interested in learning more, and spread the word to your family and friends!

08/17/2026

Help! NFV Mentoring Program has school-based mentoring where a community member goes into the school once a week to eat lunch, play games, etc., with a student who is a mentee. This is about 45 minutes. We have 6 mentees coming from West Union Elementary to the Valley campus as 4th graders this year....they all had high school mentors last year. (Not to mention the 4 mentees that were already waiting at the Valley campus)! So I need people who are either retired or can take their lunch break and go spend time with a mentee once a week. Please let me know if you are interested in learning more, and spread the word to your family and friends!

08/08/2026

Check out these awesome donations from members in our community!!

Alma Yoga Gift Certificate - 4 Free Yoga Classes. Donated by Betsy Nefzger - Value $40

06/09/2026

🎉We are Celebrating 20 Years of TRC!!🎉 We’re excited to mark the 20th Annual Turkey River Classic with an amazing raffle—and YOU have 4 chances to win BIG! Who wants raffle tickets?