Most of these kids have a trust issue. None of these kids turn their lives around just like that. Annually, about 350 Crossroads volunteers help about 500 high-risk boys and girls. Volunteers are screened and trained before they are assigned a youth. Mentors must be at least 21 years old and visit the youth assigned to them once a month.
Volunteers take their young charges to movies, museums, sporting events and parks.
Sometimes the mentor and youth just hang out together and talk. Others just visit youths while they are still in juvenile facilities. She wants to give him hope and see him graduate from college. We're seen as a friend. We are people in the community who care about these kids and give ourselves to help these kids.