Two new schools – Greenhaven Elementary in Hibbing and Washington Elementary in Ely – are partnering with United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)’s Lunch Buddies mentoring program, slated to begin next month.
This growth is becoming a trend for the program, which pairs local elementary students with screened, trained volunteer mentors from the community to share one lunch break/week. Participation has increased from two elementary schools to 13 since 2020.
Another trend for the program is difficulty recruiting mentors in new communities. With days to go until the mentor application deadline, few mentors have applied for Washington Elementary in Ely.
“The first year is usually the toughest for mentor applications,” said UWNEMN Education and Childhood Programs Specialist Sarah Gardeski. “Luckily, our residents have always pulled through, so we haven’t had to turn any children away, and the next year we usually see an increase in mentors once people start talking with their friends and neighbors about how fantastic the program is.”
According to 2024-2025 program evaluations, mentors, school staff, and parent/guardians alike saw Lunch Buddies improve participating students’ self esteem, attitude, and school attendance.
“He seemed to open up more as the program went on,” one 2024-2025 mentor reported.
98 percent of mentees said Lunch Buddies made them feel cared for. 100 percent of parents and caregivers said they noticed this as well.
“Before Lunch Buddies, my child was anxious in social settings and didn’t find much enjoyment in school activities,” one parent said. “Since being in the Lunch Buddies program, he has significantly improved with his social skills and is always excited on Lunch Buddies days.”
Research shows that consistent time spent with a caring adult plays a pivotal role in shaping positive childhood experiences, building resiliency factors that have lasting impacts on mental and physical health.
“The beauty of Lunch Buddies is that it’s fun and simple – playing games over a lunch break – but it also makes a really serious difference for local kids,” Gardeski said.
But the program cannot operate without mentors to match with students. Currently, mentors are most needed in the following schools:
- Mesabi East (Elementary)
- Nashwauk-Keewatin (Elementary)
- Vaughan-Steffensrud Elementary (Chisholm)
- Washington Elementary (Ely)
Applications are also being accepted for mentors at Cherry School, Falls Elementary School (International Falls), Floodwood School, Greenhaven Elementary School (Hibbing), Laurentian Elementary School (Eveleth), Merritt Elementary School (Mountain Iron), Northeast Range (Babbitt), and North Star Elementary (Virginia) through the end of the month.
Mentorships at Parkview Elementary in Virginia have already filled. In the instance mentee referrals outweigh mentor applications, UWNEMN will extend the deadline.
“This program is all about building up our local children, so the last thing we want is to have a student thinking no one wants to be their Lunch Buddy,” Gardeski said.