Mentor Rhode Island Seeks Volunteers to Close the State's Mentoring Gap

​Every week, thousands of Rhode Island children go without something many adults take for granted: a trusted grown-up who shows up just for them. According to Mentor Rhode Island, children today receive an average of just 14 minutes of one-on-one adult attention outside of school, homework, and daily routines. For many kids across the state, the organization's mentoring program is stepping in to close that gap.
Mentor Rhode Island runs school-based mentoring programs in Warwick and Woonsocket, matching adult volunteers with students who could benefit from extra support. Sandy Letourneau, the organization's Director of School-Based Mentoring, has led the programs for more than three years after a career in education.
"We believe that all youth have potential, but not every youth is afforded the same opportunity," Letourneau said. "That's where we step in and match students who we think could use a little extra support with a mentor."
Mentors volunteer their time statewide, visiting Warwick and Woonsocket schools to spend 45 minutes a week with a matched student. Many of the students referred to the program by teachers or parents lack self-confidence and/or could benefit from some extra social emotional support, Letourneau said. What they share is a need for consistent, individual attention.
"A lot of the students, when they come to the mentor program, they love to have an adult to sit down and play a game with or do a craft with," she said. "Just somebody to talk to who gives them that undivided attention for that 45 minutes."
Importantly, the program isn't academic. Mentors aren't expected to help with homework or tutoring. Instead, sessions might involve tossing a ball around on the playground, playing board games, working on a craft, or teaching a skill like music or writing.
Ed Mastriano, the Warwick/Woonsocket Mentor Program Assistant, has been involved in mentoring for nearly 20 years, since his time working at Channel 10. He now helps Letourneau manage the logistics of matching mentors with students, from background checks to paperwork.
The bonds formed can last well beyond a student's school years. "I have one mentee who's 23 now," Mastriano said. "I met him when he was 10. I just saw him the other day for lunch."
Despite the program's impact, Mentor Rhode Island is facing a shortage of mentors. Letourneau said the time commitment is manageable for almost anyone; retirees, college students, and even employees using workplace community service hours have all taken part.
"Anyone who has 45 minutes a week... it could even be a lunch break," she said.
Becoming a mentor starts with an inquiry form at mentorri.org, where prospective volunteers can click "Become a Mentor." From there, the organization sends an official application, conducts a background check, and requires a two-hour training session designed to prepare new mentors for success.
For those who aren't able to commit to weekly mentoring but still want to support the cause, Mentor Rhode Island hosts two major fundraisers each year. The Frozen Clam Obsta Plunge takes place on January 1st at Goddard Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., combining an obstacle course with a plunge into the ocean to ring in the new year. Participants can register on the organization's website, with proceeds going directly to the program.
The organization's largest fundraiser, a local take on "Dancing with the Stars," pairs 10 community figures with professional dancers from Warwick's Dancing Feeling studio. Each pair trains for months before performing at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, with the next event scheduled for April 8th. The event draws roughly 600 attendees annually, with tickets typically going on sale in February. Dancers compete for prizes based on fundraising totals, judges' technical scores, and audience-voted entertainment value.
Whether through mentoring, fundraising, or a one-time donation, Letourneau said the organization welcomes anyone willing to invest a little time in a child's future.
More information, including how to become a mentor or contribute to an upcoming fundraiser, is available at mentorri.org.