Bend Magazine: Friends of the Children Opens Central Oregon Chapter

Mentors like Sarah Harmon sign up for a minimum three-year commitment and spend time in the classroom with their student “friends.” They also spend a couple of hours each week on weekend outings, and one-on-one with the students at the Friends clubhouse where kids are offered snacks, a place to play games or just relax. Harmon, who has worked in the outdoor leadership and child development field for more than a decade, including with Outward Bound, said she was drawn to a model that put so much emphasis on changing kids' lives for the better.

“There are so many people who want to be there for all of these kids. Knowing that we are here too [for the kids] is comforting to a lot of people,” said Harmon.