HUNTER SMITH/The Express Reach Out Mentoring Program youth, their families, mentors and volunteers gathered for a Thanksgiving dinner at Dunnstown Fire Hall on Nov. 8.

DUNNSTOWN — The Thanksgiving season is a time to gather and give thanks for the best things in life.

For the Clinton County Reach Out Mentoring Program family — a community-based initiative connecting kids with positive role models — that meant gathering for a Thanksgiving Dinner to share in the spirit of gratitude.

Nov. 8’s Thanksgiving Dinner for the program’s youth, families, mentors and volunteers was held at the Dunnstown fire hall and prepared in large part by the kids themselves. Each youth was assigned to a station to help prepare dishes such as stuffing, corn, sweet potatoes, turkey, green bean casserole and dessert. The kids also created crafts to decorate the tables.

Participant Alexandria Benfield-Buttorf, who has been paired with her mentor, Candy Packer, for six years, said she loved making the animal centerpieces, but was most excited about the green bean casserole.

“It’s so good!” she told The Express.

When the cooking was complete, families, mentors and volunteers joined the children to eat together, and the kids enjoyed other Thanksgiving traditions, like Bingo and a lighthearted game of football outside.

Program Coordinator Martie Buck, who has been with the organization since 2019, said the group’s first Thanksgiving meal was way back in 2011, when the program was known as Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Though this year’s dinner was a bit smaller than in past years, Buck said it’s for a good reason: many participants have aged out of the program, which serves youth from 6 to 17 years old.

“Many of them have jobs now,” Buck said. “They make me so proud.”

Watching the youth grow into adults is one joy of the program; welcoming the families who attend is another.

“It is an honor to work alongside them, and best of all, we get to spend time weekly with the youth in the program,” Buck said. “Each one of them brings something special to our event and we are thankful to have been invited into their lives.”

Clinton County Commissioner Angela Harding, who volunteered at the event and recently became a mentor, said it has “been really rewarding” to participate in the program.

“Hopefully for him, too,” she said of her mentee, Brayden.

Reach Out Mentoring aims to pair each participant with a mentor, though 30 youth in the program are currently without one.

Mentors take their mentees out into the community, running errands, doing fun activities and otherwise incorporating them into their lives. The goal is to help the youth build confidence, develop life skills and form meaningful, supportive relationships.

“It’s been amazing building the relationship,” said Harding. “We were really awkward in the beginning, but now we’re starting to know each other better.”

So far, she and Brayden have visited the Flaming Foliage Festival in Renovo, the SPCA Fall Pet Extravaganza and the Pine Creek Seed Farm to explore the corn maze.

“He got us through the maze in 45 minutes because he’s a master map reader!” Harding said.

In the future, they plan to go to Clyde Peelings Reptiland and take swimming lessons at the YMCA.

“We are in need of volunteers and mentors,” Buck told The Express.

If that sounds like you, you must be at least 18-years-old, submit the required clearances and three references, and commit to spending at least two hours a month in a one-on-one mentoring relationship with a matched youth.

Volunteers must also be at least 18 and submit the required clearances to help at the program’s weekly events, which have included activities like game nights, trips to the amusement park, hiking and horseback riding.

To become a mentor, volunteer or mentee, interested individuals can complete an application online, email romp@clintoncountypa.gov or visit clintoncountypa.gov to apply.

The program is also seeking ideas for events and donated spaces to host activities. They welcome donations in many forms, including monetary contributions, gift cards to purchase food for events, paper products, leftover items from local events that can be used for prizes or goodie bags, back-to-school supplies and holiday items such as Christmas decorations.

Special thanks go to Chef Angela Snyder, who coordinates and cooks the meal each year and organizes other cooking events; Alan Sementelli of Keep Safe Transportation Services for donating turkeys; Weis Markets and Sam’s Club for gift card donations; and the Dunnstown Fire Company for hosting the event; volunteers Angela Harding, Matt Buck, Kennedy Buck, Leigh Young, Beca and Dan McCloskey, Kelly McGhee, Jacob and Delilah Snook and Rebecca Sanford; and Bryan Tibbens for pies. The program also recognizes Kathy Young, a mentor and volunteer for more than 21 years, and thanks Matt McGhee, Haywoods and the Clinton Country Club for their recent fundraiser donations.

Additional thanks were given to the Clinton County Commissioners and Children and Youth Social Services for their continued support.

“We wouldn’t be able to pull this off without them,” said Buck.