Mentorship Program Toy Drive! Each holiday season, the Mentorship Program provides toys to our participants, which they can then gift to the children in their lives. It's a very meaningful tradition that brings joy to all of us at the Mentorship Program, to our participants, and of course, to the children. Please consider participating this year by purchasing a toy (or toys)! This year, in the interest of social distancing, we have created a wish list on Amazon so that the toys can be purchased from your home and delivered directly to the Mentorship Office. Find the Amazon wish list here, and when you're ready to check out, select "Kristie Mamac" as the delivery address. You are also more than welcome to purchase toys from any other retailer and ship them to Kristie Mamac at 338 Hwy 99 N, Eugene, OR 97402, but please do not bring toys to Sponsors in person. Questions? Contact Amy at amyers@sponsorsinc.org or (541) 972-3894‬.

Mentors Needed! We are actively matching mentees with mentors, and having a large pool of mentors to choose from ensures that we can match each mentee with the best possible fit based on personality and mutual interests. Do you know someone who would be a fantastic mentor for the Mentorship Program? Please refer them to us! If your referral completes the application process, you'll even get a $20 gift card as our way of saying "thanks"! Contact Kristie at kmamac@sponsorsinc.org or (541) 505-5665 for more information.

Join the Mentorship Team! The Mentorship Program has an immediate part-time opening for a female Peer Recovery Mentor. This Peer Mentor will support Sponsors clients in all stages of recovery. Click here to see details and apply.

Mentorship Program Orientation: The next orientation for new mentors will take place on Zoom on Saturday, November 14th (time TBD). Attendees will be provided with the Zoom link ahead of the event. Be sure to have Zoom set up on your device in advance; you can download it here, and please don't hesitate to reach out to us for technical support. Contact Amy at amyers@sponsorsinc.org or (541) 972-3894 with questions.

Match of the Month is... Leah and Lauren! Congratulations! These two were matched in March while Leah was still incarcerated. They communicated and fostered their relationship until Leah was released and moved into Sponsors. While continuing to build her friendship with Lauren, Leah tackled her re-entry goals, proving to be successful at everything she put her mind to. Mentee Leah says, “Lauren religiously wrote to me, eager to get to know me. I appreciated every letter and encouragement that I received from both Lauren and Brett. I was pleased to know that Lauren and I had so many things in common. I remember feeling unsure about my future in the months before I was paired up with Lauren - feeling motivated for change - but it wasn’t until I met Lauren through letters that I became inspired to change. Having that little extra support has definitely helped me through tough times. Thank you, Sponsors Mentorship Program, for the perfect match!” Mentor Lauren says, “Creating new relationships in pandemic times is a challenge! But determination and resilience are key to re-entry, so Leah and I welcomed the challenge. We texted, spoke, and zoomed. After we closed successful, we finally met in person (masked!) at a park. We made a weekly park running date... as long as the weather holds." Great job, Leah – we’re so proud of you! And Lauren – thank you for devoting your time to Leah and our program!

Disc golf discs available to borrow! Disc golf is such a fun (and free!) way to get outside and spend some time with friends - and there are several gorgeous, local courses to choose from. Discs are available on loan to Sponsors residents and mentors. Free. Check in with the Mentorship Office at 362 Highway 99 North, Tuesday - Friday, 9 am - 4 pm to borrow a disc and get info on places to play and how to play.

Golf clubs available to borrow! Golf is an amazing way to get in some easy exercise and glorious scenery. Golf clubs are available on loan to Sponsors residents and mentors. Free. Check in with the Mentorship Office at 362 Highway 99 North, Tuesday - Friday, 9 am - 4 pm to borrow a set.

Staying Connected: We have created a "Staying Connected" guide which includes tools for getting free internet access, communicating via video chat, and having fun for free at home: find it here!

Get your coloring on! Click the image above, print it, grab some crayons, colored pencils, or whatever else you've got, and go to town! Coloring is a fun, relaxing activity for kids and adults. Happy fall, y'all!

Fall Bucket List Challenge! The weather is growing cooler and the leaves are turning beautiful colors, so it's time to have some fall-time fun! Find your "Bucket List Buddy" (this could be your mentee, mentor, family member, or friend) and coordinate with each other, remotely if needed, to complete as many of the fun, free "Fall Bucket List" activities as you can by Monday, November 23rd at 5 pm. Both members of each of the two teams who complete the most activities by November 23rd will each receive a $20 gift card to the local business of their choice! Winners will be contacted the week of November 23rd. Click here to see the "Fall Bucket List" and the rules. Questions? Contact Amy at amyers@sponsorsinc.org or (541) 972-3894‬.

Community Speaker Event: "Not for Rent" Film Discussion! "Not for Rent is a powerful film that must be watched. It addresses communities' 'not-in-our-town' mentality, while educating the layperson on American’s recidivism crisis and the prison revolving door. Directed by Matt Duhamel, who himself has experienced incarceration, this film will open eyes to the millions of men and women who combat housing restrictions while attempting to move on from a past that the community does not want them to forget. It begs the question, 'Who deserves a second chance?'" Be sure to watch "Not for Rent" on your own ahead of time - watch it for free online here. Then, on Wednesday, November 25th, 6 – 7:15 pm, join us for the film discussion on Zoom by clicking here. This event is free. Ages 18+. Be sure to have Zoom set up on your device in advance; you can download it here, and please don't hesitate to reach out to us for technical support. RSVP to Amy at amyers@sponsorsinc.org or (541) 972-3894‬.

Mentor Support Group! Mentors only. Join us on Zoom on Tuesday, November 10th, 4 - 5:30 pm for a great opportunity to connect with staff and other mentors about your mentoring struggles and successes. At the time of the event, click here to join us on Zoom. Be sure to have Zoom set up on your device in advance; you can download Zoom here, and please don't hesitate to reach out to us for technical support. RSVP to amyers@sponsorsinc.org or (541) 972-3894‬.

Active in Recovery (AIR): AIR is a program of Mentorship that offers certified peer recovery mentoring, and we currently have openings for new mentees who are looking for support in their recovery. For your safety and convenience, our peer mentor is available remotely via video chat! Our peer mentor can help you find your path to recovery by helping you locate available meetings, get a sponsor, build a positive support system, participate in healthy pro-social activities, and find a home group and learn about service work within that program. To qualify, you must have a desire to be clean and sober, be age 18 or older, have a criminal history, reside in the Eugene/Springfield area, and not be enrolled in the Mentorship Program Life Study. Interested? Contact Ben Bryant at bbryant@sponsorsinc.org or (541) 521-7949.

Guitars available to borrow! Music is good for your body and soul - maybe making music will be your new hobby! Guitars are available on loan to any Sponsors resident. Free. Check in with the Mentorship Office at 362 Highway 99 North, Tuesday - Friday, 9 am - 4 pm to borrow one.

Free Fishing Licenses! Time to go fishing! Thanks to the Department of Human Services, the Mentorship Program has fishing licenses available on loan. Licenses can be picked up from the Mentorship Office at 362 Highway 99 North, Tuesday - Friday, 9 am - 4 pm. Fishing is a wonderful, easy way to experience the great outdoors, and almost anyone can do it - all you really need is a license, a fishing pole, some bait, and a body of water! These licenses are available only to folks who are receiving housing and/or substance abuse treatment at Sponsors, and the licenses must be returned after one week. Licenses cannot be shared; everyone present during a fishing outing must have their own license. If you have extra fishing equipment lying around, please consider donating it to the Mentorship Program to be used by Sponsors participants!

Free two-week gym passes! Want to work out at some of the nicest gyms around, for free? To receive a free 2-week pass to Elements Health Clubs, email Amy at amyers@sponsorsinc.org, or pick one up from the Mentorship Office at 362 Highway 99 North, Tuesday - Friday, 9 am - 4 pm. You'll be able to visit the West Eugene location, the Oakway location, or the Springfield location. Take a water aerobics class, learn to box, do Pilates, and more!

Mentees Wanted! The Mentorship Program is in full swing, offering nearly all of our usual programming during these times of social distancing - and we know that there are folks out there who could use some extra support and human connection right now. Please spread the word about all of the amazing things that the Mentorship Program has to offer, and send potential mentees our way!