MentorKids Kentucky has opened the doors on its new home, just a stone’s throw away from the previous location on Veach Road. Officials hope to turn the new space into a multipurpose area with everything they need during their mentorship process.
Executive Director Berly Tillman Sullivan said the new spot includes a living area with televisions, a play area for younger mentees, a kitchen, and a dinner area.
Sullivan said the dining and kitchen space will not only provide the mentees with a warm meal during meetings but also teach the mentees how to cook food — especially that which is often found in food pantries.
“I really want to teach them how to make food that you can pick up from the food pantries. We want to teach them how to make it right … and can utilize what they have instead of just promoting the kitchen,” Sullivan said.
The facility still has some finishing work to be completed, but Sullivan said the building will be open to mentees and volunteers to use in the near future.
Sullivan aims for the building to be accessible from roughly 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to allow mentees and mentors to meet in a safe space for group or one-on-one sessions. To increase security, Sullivan upgraded the building to accommodate video and audio security recordings.
With this change in security detail, MentorKids is upgrading the services they’re able to provide, including adding laundry units that will be free to use for mentees. The desire for free laundry comes from her experience as a child.
“When I was in elementary school, I went to school with dirty clothes all the time. I never want that for another kid. I can’t imagine having that. So the (kids) can come in, put a load of laundry in, and hang out,” Sullivan said.
Ultimately, Sullivan said they hope the mentees can find an area of safety within the building. With students ages 6 to 14, she said they have to try to find something throughout the space that can be used for them, but first and foremost, she wants them to have one constant feeling.
“I’ll put it on that wall: Jesus loves you no matter what,” she said. “If there’s one thing that I want to be known for, I want this building to be known that there is nothing you can do that will shake the love He has for you.”
