Volunteers play a vital role at Eliada. Whether assisting with our mailings, helping organize a special event, or tutoring a group of Eliada students, individuals and civic groups who generously donate their time are truly integral to everything that we do. Past volunteers have:

• organized birthday, holiday, or celebration events for residential children;
• addressed and stuffed invitations to special events or other mailings;
• planted flowers, painted campus buildings, or assisted in building repairs;
• tutored individual children or groups of children;
• helped care for very young children in our day care nursery;
• and helped in countless other ways!

If you are interested in working on a one-on-one basis with an Eliada child, you may want to consider our mentoring program. As a mentor you would provide a structured and trusting relationship that offers guidance, support, encouragement, and reinforcement aimed at developing the competence and character of the student.

Please be aware that anyone who works directly with the children must go through stringent background checks to ensure the safety and well-being of our students.

Responsibilities of our mentors include:

• Visit the student two to four hours a month.
• Make a long-term commitment of at least six months.
• Attend initial orientation and any ongoing training offered for mentors.
• Complete paperwork related to the student to whom you are assigned.
• Gain an understanding of the Eliada Model.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries with the student.
• Engage in healthy activities in the community or on campus.
• Seek supervision of the Program Manager upon any concerns.
• Have open communication with the residential counselors.
• Commit to supervise the student at all times when off-campus.

To become a mentor or for more information or questions about the program, contact Amy Owenby at 828.254.5356 x 360 or aowenby@eliada.org.