King Street Center Mentoring Program

The King Street Center Mentoring program seeks mentors ready & able to build a friendship, broaden horizons and show commitment to an individual child. Each mentor is matched with an elementary or middle school student who is enrolled at King Street Center.

Typical adventures include a visit to a playground, conversation over hot chocolate, apple picking, baking, local hikes, attending a sporting event/concert together, visiting the library, or pursuing other shared interests. The pandemic has taught us how to stay connected even if we can’t be together! Gabriella has loads of tips of how to “get together” even when other things get in the way.

  • One-year (minimum) commitment
  • Mentors of kids age 5-10 should expect to spend two hours per week with your mentee.
  • Mentors of teens age 11-18 should expect to spend 4-6 per month, over 2-4 sessions that fit both of your schedules.
  • Must be 21 years +
  • Must pass criminal background check
  • If wanting to transport mentee, must show proof of automobile insurance & license

Please note, all mentors are required to submit an application and clear a criminal background check after being interviewed. Please complete the Mentor Application here. All volunteers, tutors, and mentors must be able to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Contact Gabriella Tufo Strouse at gabriella@kingstreetcenter.org or call 802-862-6736 x105 (on-site) or 802-318-5928, (cell) for more information.

Current Mentors!

  • Tracking your monthly time and activities is important to the health of our program. Please complete your monthly survey here.
  • Activity suggestions can be read/added here.
  • Scavenger Hunt fun can be found here!
  • Opportunity Fund: Is there a special outing, activity, project that you and your mentee have been wishing to do? If the answer is yes, you two can request money through the Mentor Program’s “Opportunity Fund.” Apply here today!
  • Check out this video about Anxiety and Depression
    Mentor Philip Foy says, “I thought it was a great training and definitely worth the time to watch the recording. Paul was a wealth of knowledge and the participants’ stories/questions provided valuable opportunities to understand how to identify red flags, engage with mentees, and work with them to find solutions.”

You’ve got Mail!

Send a handwritten letter to your Mentee or Book Buddy right here at King Street Center! There is an element of surprise when you open the mailbox and there is a letter addressed to “you” inside. It may even seem old fashioned in today’s world with all the other platforms to stay connected. Letter writing and receiving is endearing, fun, and a great Academic Boost activity. We encourage “you” (Mentors & Book Buddies) to send a postcard/note/letter to:

King Street Center, Att: Gabriella/students first name. PO Box 1615, Burlington, VT 05402