The Callaway TeamMates chapter officially kicked off a new school year with a pancake breakfast on Wednesday, Sept. 13. The purpose of the breakfast, according to program coordinators Karen Weverka and Abe Hinman, was to welcome mentors and mentees for another year and to encourage others to become involved.

“We need more mentors,” Weverka stated emphatically.

That said, the two are very pleased with the number they have so far. “We currently have 45 matches, which is good for a small school,” said Hinman.

Callaway Public School offers the TeamMates program for students in grades 7-12. Weverka and Hinman don’t seek nominations or parental requests for TeamMates students - the kids nominate themselves.

“The kid decides whether or not they want a mentor themselves,” said Weverka. “Then we work to get people matched up.”

Hinman and Weverka both say they do have students who want to participate in TeamMates - they just need mentors. “We put on our Facebook page that we were looking for four male mentors. Now we’re looking for six, four men and two more women,” Weverka added. “We really need some more people. It’s really sad to watch a kid wait for someone to come and be with them.”

The coordinators are planning a variety of special events for the Callaway TeamMates this year. In October TeamMates CEO Demoine Adams is coming to the school to share a program. A pizza lunch is planned for November, and a cookie decorating get-together in December.

The matches meet at the school and can join their mentees for lunch or meet during the student’s study hall period.

“Tom Osborne, the founder of TeamMates, said ‘The greatest human need is that of being heard.’ That is what TeamMates is all about,” said Weverka.

TeamMates matches will be featured in the Courier each week beginning Sept. 28, so be sure and look for those.

Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a mentor may contact either Hinman or Weverka at the school or visit teammates.org.