People participate in the dedication ceremony for Mid-Valley Mentors' new Mentor Activity & Resource Center on Friday. / Thomas Patterson | Statesman Journal

Sunday February 13, 2011 Statesman Journal by, Timm Collins

Organization plans expansion of resources, services for youth and adults

With a few words of thanks and a swipe of Salem Area Chamber of Commerce’s official scissors, a new activity center for Mid Valley Mentors opened Friday.

The Mentor Activity & Resource Center at 3878 Beverly Ave. NE, Building H, Suite 19, is more than twice the size of the space the group used to occupy in the IKE Box downtown.

“The feedback from our volunteers since the opening of the original mentor center in 2009 has been that it is a valuable resource that needs to be expanded,” said executive director Sarah Spinks. “This new space will enable us to increase the types of resources available to volunteers and clients.”

Mid Valley Mentors has recruited, trained and matched volunteer mentors with youth affected by incarceration since in Marion and Polk counties since 2004 and added an adult program in 2009.

The center is a resource for all Mid Valley Mentors’ volunteers and clients. The center plans to have activities such as movie nights, creative workshops, gaming tournaments and more.

It has a computer room and other resources that Spinks hopes will enable volunteer-client “matches” to work on college applications, career explorations, résumés or homework together.

“The goal is to provide a variety of options to fit each match’s interests and needs,” Spinks said.

She said the center currently has about 60 mentors working in the Juvenile Enrichment through Mentoring program and another 60 taking part in its Reentry Solutions Program as part of the Marion County Reentry Initiative.

With the additional space, Spinks said that number is bound to increase.

“The goal is to get up to 150 mentors helping both kids and other adults.”

tdcollins@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6750 or at twitter.com/TimmCollinsSJ