January is national mentoring month

January is the start of national mentoring month!

City Impact is a community resource that helps connect kids with mentors.

“Instead of judging them, be a part of their life, they may not have anybody to show them the way,” said Tim Linsenmeyer.

Tim Linsenmeyer has been a mentor with City Impact for nearly six years now.

He’s a part of the Strengths For Life program, which pairs adult volunteers with City Impact students, with the goal of providing them with a positive role model.

One of the kids he is mentoring, Giovanni Arizola, is a 13-year-old with a love for sports.

“I honestly think I’ve probably learned more from him than he has from me, he’s taught me how to listen, that I’m not always right,” said Linsenmeyer.

Mentor matches meet weekly, adding long–lasting encouragement and stability in the lives of the kids.

“We play catch, we go out to eat, we go on adventures, he’s someone who I can trust and talk to, he’s helped me become a better person,” said Arizola, Tim’s mentee.

Tim says mentoring has really grown on him.

“Honestly, mentoring has become a lifestyle to me. I wasn’t too sure about it at first, it’s just something I’ve grown to love, it’s one of my favorite things about life,” said Linsenmeyer.

There are 35 kids waiting on mentors to be matched with at City Impact.

Tim wants this experience to change other people’s lives too.

“In honor of national mentoring month I just want to encourage other people out there to go out and be a mentor.”

If you are interested in learning more about what it takes to become a mentor, head to cityimpact.org for more info.