Lunch Buddies

Adult mentors spend one day a week eating lunch with their matched elementary school student.

This new mentoring program takes place during school hours at a participating elementary school.  Mentors are adult volunteers who provide one-to-one companionship during the child’s lunch hour.  Volunteers can surprise the child with a Happy Meal or eat the school provided lunch – while doing a shared activity such as reading a library book, or tackling a tough math problem.  Meets the same day and time of every week.

Mentoring Buddies

Matches college and high school student mentors with elementary school students after school.

High school and college students are mentors to elementary students after school on a weekly basis, with an adult coordinator supervising the program. From October through April, tutors have about 60-90 minutes to bond with the children while working on homework, learning activities, board games.

• Key Club members from Joliet Catholic Academy are matched as "Bigs" with "Littles" from Hufford Junior High, Sandburg Elementary and Taft Elementary.

• Key Club members from Joliet West H.S. are matched as "Bigs" with "Littles" from Thigpen Elementary.

• Plainfield South H.S. Service Club members are matched as "Bigs" with "Littles from Meadowview Elementary.

• Lewis University students are matched as "Bigs" with "Littles" from Ludwig Elementary and Irene King Elementary.

• National Honor Society members at Morris Community High School are matched as "Bigs" with "Littles" from White Oak Elementary.

Sports Buddies

College athletes matched with elementary school students.

Sports Buddies is a program that matches college athletes with elementary students for fun and athletic activities.  The elementary students are exposed to the many positive aspects of collegiate sports including discipline, teamwork, and friendship. The athletes and elementary students get together once a month during the athletes' playing season.

• "Bigs" from the University of St. Francis'  women's Volleyball team and the men's Basketball team are matched with "Littles" from Woodlawn Elementary School.

• "Bigs" from Joliet Catholic Academy's
  sophomore girls' Basketball team are matched with "Littles" from Hufford Junior High School.

Art Buddies

Matches high school students enrolled in art classes with elementary school students who show an interest in art and who would benefit from spending time with a positive older role model.  Matches meet at the high school once a week after school for an hour during the school year. 

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• "Bigs" from Morris Community High School are matched with "Littles" from Shabbona Middle School.

• Art Club students from Bolingbrook High School are matched as "Bigs" with "Littles" from Brooks Middle School.

• Coal City High School students are matched as "Bigs" with "Littles" from Coal City Intermediate School.

• Students from Gardner South Wilmington High School are matched as "Bigs" with "Littles" from Gardner Elementary School.

Career Path

Business and industry professionals matched with students in junior high schools.

The Career Path program matches volunteers from the business and professional community with junior high students to prepare the students for a career and for life.  The students who are chosen for Career Path are deemed to be capable of succeeding, but need extra motivation.

• Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center employees are matched as "Bigs" to "Littles" from Hufford Junior High (7th grade).

• Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center employees are matched as "Bigs" to Hufford Junior High (8th grade).

• Employees from the Morris Daily Herald are matched with "Bigs" from Shabbona Middle School (7th grade).