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 special tradition that brings holiday joy to our participants and their families. Please consider participating this year by donating a toy - or toys! This year, in the interest of social distancing, we ask that you ship new, unused toys to Kristie Mamac at 338 Hwy 99 N, Eugene, OR 97402. Please do not drop off toys in person. If you need toy ideas, check out the Amazon wish list here. Questions? Contact Amy at amyers@sponsorsinc.org or (541) 972-3894‬.

Match of The Month is... Renata and Robin! Congratulations! Renata and Robin are match of the month for December 2020. After being matched in July of this year, this mentoring match jumped right into getting to know one another. Now, they are committed to staying in touch every Monday and Wednesday with telephone calls. We are proud to say that it is going very well for these two! Brett, Mentorship Case Manager, called to congratulate the pair about being our December match of the month, and they were both excited and honored. Mentor Renata said, “It's a joy and a pleasure being matched with someone so resourceful. I feel like she has healthy coping mechanisms, and we have good conversations. I love how happy she is in her new home and managing her life successfully.” Robin shared about the match as well, saying, “I enjoy talking to Renata. We share with each other every Monday and Wednesday. I appreciate her time and consideration. The Mentorship Program is wonderful, it saved my life! My mentor is a good support system for me - she is there and she listens, and she has good ideas.” The Mentorship Program is designed to support participants while they are still incarcerated and through their transition back into our local community, and our goal is always to build relationships exactly like this one - relationships built on mutual respect and mutual interests! Great job you two, especially during such a tough time. We also want to thank all of you for continuing to participate and believe in our program. Please continue to be safe out there. We are always a phone call away.

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.

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!

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!

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.

Mentor Support Group! Mentors only. Join us on Zoom on Tuesday, December 8th, 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.

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 for them, 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 orientation 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.

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 mentors are available remotely via video chat! Our peer mentors 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, or contact Patricia Dexter at pdexter@sponsorsinc.org or (541) 525-4745.

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!

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!

Golf clubs available to borrow! Golf is a fun, relaxing way to get in some exercise and see some beautiful 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.

Get your winter word search on! Click the image above to find the printable winter word search, grab the kiddos and some hot cocoa, and have some winter fun. Happy holidays!