Kinship of Todd- Wadena counties office in Staples is in the process of possibly closing the youth mentoring program. An emergency board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 26 at 8:30 a.m. to discuss that possibility.

As a minimum goal, the board has discussed the program continuing monthly activities for kids and volunteers to attend together. The costs involved are approximately $2,000 for the community monthly activities and $4,000 for insurance costs for the year.

The overall goal would be to continue the program, complete with matches, activities, events and promotions to secure $25,000 on yearly basis through local support and personal donations.

Kinship started in 1999. The agency relied on grants mainly as the source of revenue for the first ten years of operation. In 2009, the agency lost a $22,000 YIP state grant on a yearly basis to help support operational costs such as staffing. The agency also lost a $4,800 grant from The Gannett Foundation/KARE 11 to support and sponsor monthly activities.

The agency this year just recently lost a $4,000 grant from the Wadena Family Services Collaborative which was on a yearly basis and had been going since the program’s start in 1999. This funding from Wadena Family Services Collaborative was designated for the program insurance costs to keep matches going with the kids and volunteers.

These three grant losses were 88 percent of Kinship’s revenue source as the agency’s yearly budget is approximately $35,000.

Special grants (Wal-Mart, Todd-Wadena Operation Round-Up, Foundations and others) and fundraisers in place will bring in around $10,000 in revenue. This will be used for special projects or events in order to maintain this overall service to kids.

Contact Dave Johnson, director, at 218- 820-0037 or Nick Schultz, treasurer, at 218- 296-0966 for direct questions or concerns.

Visit the kinshipoftoddwadena.org to find out more on the area’s youth mentoring program and the ways to respond financially.