Mentor RI is looking for volunteers in the City of Warwick for a job that takes up just one hour a week.

According to Sandy Letourneau, Mentor RI program coordinator, the program is looking to find mentors for students within the city.

The shortage, according to Letourneau, is largely a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which, the program’s previous director passed away. While Letourneau said that caused a brief “disconnect,” the number of students looking for a mentor has continued to rise, and Mentor RI is looking to help those students.

“People are more comfortable now getting back into public spaces, being in the schools,” Letourneau said. “I think people are ready to get out and start volunteering.”

Mentor RI first started in 1990, as a partnership between Warwick Public Schools, MetLife and the Chamber Education Foundation. Nine years later, the program became a statewide one, named the RI Mentoring Partnership, later renamed Mentor RI in 2017.

Students are referred to the Mentor RI program through their schools, which identify students that are struggling with social skills, peer relationships or who need a positive role model in their lives.

Mentors’ duties include meeting with a student at school and setting up activities for the student and mentor to do together. It takes approximately 2-4 weeks to become a mentor, according to Letourneau, who said that that time was for a background check and training to be completed.

“This is not a tutor-type situation or anything like that,” Letourneau said. “It’s far less intimidating than other mentoring programs where you’re taking the child out into the community trying to come up with things to do. This is going to a school, a nice, safe place, where the secretary and the principal are so glad that you’re there.”

Warwick Water Division director Terry DiPetrillo, a mentor to five students himself, said that while he was initially skeptical of the impact that the program could have, hearing from teachers and principals about the impacts he had showed him how special the program could be.

“I’ve got one kid in second grade- he’s doing remarkably well,” DiPetrillo said. “He had big trouble focusing on anything. Now, he’s actually joining the chess club. I taught him how to play chess.”

Letourneau said that she’s heard multiple cases of students who meet with mentors becoming more confident in speaking to adults, as well as picking up other life skills from their mentors.

DiPetrillo is one of multiple longtime mentors, according to Letourneau, who have continued working with students beyond their school years. She noted some mentors have developed relationships lasting upwards of 30 years.

“They’ve mentored children right from first grade up through high school, and then continue their friendship with them right through college and adulthood,” DiPetrillo said. “It’s pretty cool to see.”

Letourneau said that the work of city officials in getting the program back on its feet has been  invaluable, giving credit to Mayor Frank Picozzi, the Warwick Fire Department and the Warwick Police Department for their support of the program, and in the case of the latter two, providing mentors themselves.

While Picozzi said that he couldn’t be a mentor himself due to an ever-changing schedule, he said he fully supports the programs.

“Every little bit helps the community,” Picozzi said. “I encourage people to get involved.”

Letourneau said that the program’s greatest needs within the city currently are at Sherman, Norwood and Holliman elementary schools. Mentor RI Senior Director of Training and Partnerships Christopher Margadonna estimates that there are about 40 students throughout the city on Mentor RI’s waitlist, as well as 900 throughout the state.

Both DiPetrillo and Letourneau said that helping mentor students has been a fulfilling experience.

“It’s self-rewarding,” DiPetrillo said. “[Hearing from] teachers or principals, social workers will tell you ‘Hey, this kid’s turning around. He’s doing so much better.’ It makes yourself feel good- you’re doing something good.”

Anyone looking to become a mentor can sign up by going to the “Become a Mentor” section on Mentor RI’s website, mentorri.org, and filling out the form located there.