Mentor DeKalb is a project of the Partnership for a Drug Free DeKalb.  The Partnership was organized in 1999 by Ben Baxley, Cynthia “Pie” Evans, and Gwen Hill.

The motivation of these individuals was their concern for the increase in drug use in our community.  Through their efforts a board of directors for the organization was formed and Liz Barrontine was chosen as the executive director.

The Partnership was established to coordinate prevention activities.  Mentor DeKalb was created to provide mentors to children or teens that need a caring and supportive person to help guide them to personal success.

Mentor DeKalb is active in every school in DeKalb County.  These volunteers form meaningful friendships with students.

A segment of the mentor program is called the Book Buddy.  Volunteers read with an elementary student for twenty minutes once a month.

You can choose the school, age level, and time convenient to your schedule.  People think that they are so busy that there is no time to volunteer.  The Book Buddy program strives to make it convenient, fun, and meaningful.

I want to personally commend Pat Taylor for his dedication to reading to the students.  Pat’s eyes light up with laughter when he talks about his experience.  According to him, the volunteers gain as much as the students.

Twenty minutes a month can make a lifetime difference in the child.

The slogan of Mentor DeKalb is “Make a difference …Be the difference.”  You can’t do it all – but you can do something.

Contact Velma Brown or Nacole Baxley at 997-0000 to learn more about the Book Buddy program or other services of Partnership for a Drug Free DeKalb.