Lunch Buddies Substitute Mentor Application | United Way of Northeastern Minnesota

Thank you for your interest in serving as a Lunch Buddies substitute mentor for the 2025-2026 school year!

If you can meet our substitute mentor requirements, please fill out the application below, and UWNEMN staff will be in touch with next steps!

About You

Name

Date of Birth

Gender

Street Address (including city, state, zip code)

Home/Cell Phone

Work Phone

About Lunch Buddies

How did you hear about Lunch Buddies?

Newspaper

Radio

Workplace Meeting

Word of Mouth

Other…

Indicate the preference for which school you would like to substitute at:

Please indicate any days/weeks/months you know you will NOT be available to substitute.

Do you commit to completing the mentor training session prior to participating in the program?

Application Questions

1. What motivates you to volunteer as a mentor?

2. Please describe any previous experience you have volunteering or working with youth.

3. What qualities, skills, or other attributes do you feel you have that would benefit a mentee? Please explain.

4. Please describe any health concerns you have that might impact your participation in this program.

5. How would you describe yourself?

6. How would your friends, family, and co-workers describe you?

7. Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a crime? If so, what were the circumstances?

8. Have you ever been investigated or convicted of sexually abusing or molesting a youth 18 or younger? If yes, please explain.

Are you willing to communicate regularly and openly with program staff, provide monthly information regarding your mentoring activities, and receive feedback regarding any difficulties during your participation in the mentoring program?

Do you speak any languages other than English?

Which languages?

Background

Education Background (check one)

Other:

Please provide employment information for the past five years, with most recent position held first.

Please list the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three people you would like to use as character references (only people you have known for at least a year).

In making this application to be a volunteer, I understand that United Way of Northeastern Minnesota routinely performs criminal record checks of all volunteers for the position of mentor for which I am applying. This check may be done on me if I sign below. If I fail to sign, it may be grounds for rejecting me as a mentor.

Background Check

To speed up the application process, please consider uploading a signed background check form before submitting your application.

To do so:

1) Click here to download the Background Check Form.

2) Fill it out in its entirety. This form must be completed with a written signature; a typed out name will be rejected by the BCA.

3) Scan or photograph your completed form and upload it at the link below or email it to sarah@unitedwaynemn.org.
Background checks are mandatory for all Lunch Buddies mentor applicants.

Upload Your Background Check Form Here

One file only.
200 MB limit.
Allowed types: txt, rtf, pdf, doc, docx, odt, ppt, pptx, odp, xls, xlsx, ods.

Please read carefully before submitting

I agree to follow all mentoring program guidelines and understand that any violation will result in suspension and/or termination of the mentoring relationship.

I understand that United Way of Northeastern Minnesota is not obligated to provide a reason for their decision in accepting or rejecting me as a mentor.

(optional) I agree to allow United Way of Northeastern Minnesota to use any photographic image of me taken while participating in the mentoring program. These images may be used in promotions or other related marketing materials.

E-Signature

Date