Urgent Need for Adult Mentors in Sioux Falls Right Now

There is a real need in the community right now for adults to step forward and help mentor kids in Sioux Falls.

The need is so great that several high-profile residents throughout the Sioux Empire are helping raise awareness of the call.

One of those people is Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum.

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Chief Thum told Dakota News Now, “The reality is, when I checked in with Lutheran Social Services and Teammates, as of today there are over 250 kids on waiting lists for mentorship in our community.”

That's a big number, even for a community the size of Sioux Falls.

Thum, together with Chris Bierle, the Dean of Students at Laura B. Anderson Elementary School, are both part of a group of people encouraging adults throughout the community to get involved.

Bierle, told Dakota News Now, “Mentors provide more than just time. They offer students personalized support and attention, something many kids don’t get elsewhere. In a world full of distractions, whether it’s technology, difficult home environments, or overcrowded living situations, a mentor’s steady presence can be life-changing.”

According to Pigeon 605, Thum and Mayor Paul TenHaken’s Sioux 52 mentorship initiative had 89 mentors sign up all last year.

And the need for mentors to step up continues to grow. Since 2019, there has been almost a 50 percent decrease in mentors at Title I schools. That decrease had a lot to do with a combination of the pandemic and older mentors retiring.

Pigeon 605 reports the commitment to mentor usually only takes about 40 minutes a week. And typically ends up being just as rewarding for the mentor, as it is for the student.

Those interested in becoming a mentor, or wanting to learn more about the various mentorship programs are encouraged to visit Sioux 52, Teammates, or Lutheran Social Services.

Source: Dakota News Now/Pigeon 605