January is National Mentoring Month, which is the perfect time to consider becoming a mentor at Denver Rescue Mission. Through our Family Rescue Ministry (FRM) program, families and seniors in need are supported by mentors who help them transition into long-term, stable housing. There is always a need for mentors, and during COVID-19, the need is especially apparent as vulnerable members of our community are being greatly impacted. By becoming a mentor and offering the gifts that you have, you can make a difference in the lives of others.
For Trevia, mentorship at the Mission played a significant role in her story. She came to the Mission after losing her job and being evicted from her apartment where she lived for 22 years.
It was through our program that Trevia met her mentor, Carrie. Right away, the two developed a deep friendship. “It was like meeting a sister that you didn’t even know you had,” Carrie said. “That changed my life, to have that experience.”
Carrie has been a mentor with the Mission for a little more than two years. She has generously shared her heart for helping others, which ultimately came from the values that her parents passed on to her.
“My parents had great parents who taught them strong morals and values and emphasized education,” she said. “It was important to me not only to pass those things on to my own children, but to help people that might also not have had that guidance.”
With the help of Carrie and the FRM program, Trevia was able to get back on her feet and get an apartment of her own. Carrie helped Trevia in her time of need, which encouraged Trevia to become a mentor herself and do the same for others.
You can become a mentor, just like Carrie and Trevia. Due to COVID-19, many mentors and mentees are meeting virtually. Mentorship includes supporting families’ goals and needs, such as budgeting and planning, and more importantly, establishing relationships with them. “Don’t worry too much about whether you’re qualified or not,” Carrie said. “I believe that God will guide you and that He placed us on this earth to serve Him, love Him, honor Him, and bring glory to Him in everything that we do. I believe that He equips us to do the things that He’s called us to do. To love God is to love others and to serve others. So just go for it! God will equip you.”
You Can Mentor Families and Seniors In Need
Our Family Rescue Ministry program provides assistance for families and seniors in need, including partnering them with mentors from the community who help them develop important life skills in budgeting, family needs, and more. Other mentoring opportunities, including working with refugee families and men in our New Life Program are also available.
Learn More About Trevia’s Story
Trevia was featured in our December 2020 edition of Changing Lives, the Mission’s monthly newsletter.
Written by: Linneya Gardner, Content and Photography Intern
