(KAIR)--Federal funds mean the founding of a new mentorship program for Atchison youth. 

Selected to oversee the federally funded project is the Boys and Girls Club of Atchison, which receives a grant of $7,500 for implementation of the program. 

Joel Hardy, Unit Director for the local Boys and Girls Club, says the monies will allow the organization to fill a gap in the community. “Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Atchison recently dissolved, and we saw the need in the community for a mentorship program. We decided to step in and provide that need, and this grant will definitely assist us with making that program possible.” 

Hardy says the task of implementation is already beginning, with the Boys and Girls Club seeing Benedictine College, and other local schools,  as partners for the program. “We're working with Benedictine College as well as all the local school districts. Right now, the plan is to have mentors from the college paired one on two with mentees. What I mean by that is that there will be two students to every one mentor, and they will spend at least four hours a month with their mentees.” 

Hardy says that aspect of the program would take place at the Boys and Girls Club, but there is also a goal to see the mentors work with the younger students in a real world environment. “They're going to also be encouraged to go off-site, to visit the college campus, so they can show the kids what it's like to be on a real college campus, or maybe take them places like the bowling alley, or the park, things like that. The goal of this is to have these mentors help their mentees with homework, do service projects, give back to the community, play games, and teach some valuable life skills, and have a good time.”  

The Atchison branch was selected by the Boys and Girls Club of America to participate in the program, which is backed by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, and the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Hardy says once the program is launched, applications will be available both at the Boys and Girls Club Mall Towers office and at the organizations website. 

Those who wish to serve as mentors will be required to undergo a background check.