“It takes a village to raise a child.”

In Stanislaus, members of the county family are following this motto through volunteer work at local elementary schools.

It’s called the Employee Mentor Program and it’s made a difference for the past 16 years.  Once a week for the entire school year, volunteers meet with the same student during the lunch hour. They serve as role models, advisers, teachers and even friends to inspire the identified at-risk students.

The Stanislaus County volunteers run the gamut, from administrative assistants to county supervisors. They work in teams of three, not only to ensure that at least one mentor meets with their selected student each week, but also to break down barriers within the county structure.