Most people would argue that a full-time job and a growing family are enough to fill up the day. But for Elisa Holley, there’s always time to be a mentor.
“I was a single mom for a while and my boys had big brothers,” Holley said.
For the past year, she has been working with a teen in foster care.
She admits homework can be a challenge for both for them, along with family demands – her third son was born in January – but Holley makes time every week.
“It's just a priority, you know, just the way that I would rush home to get to one of my boys’ concerts," she said. "I would do the same thing for her.”
The mentorship program is administered by Community Based Care of Central Florida (CBCCFL). Leaders suggest activities, provide training for the mentors and are a support structure to make sure the student and the mentor have the best possible relationship.
Mentoring is much more than helping with school work. Elisa said with her all boy household, she gets in “girl time” with her mentee by playing games, going bowling or visiting the mall.
“You get to see changes in their lives and when she meets her goals, it's amazing.”
Approximately 3,000 children and their families are helped by CBCCFL every day. The one-on-one relationships like Elisa’s are crucial to reminding mentees of their purpose, worth and promise.