FULTON, NY – Mary-Margaret Pekow, counseling director with Catholic Charities of Oswego County, has announced that Pamela Thomas has been selected as coordinator of the agency’s popular Amigo Mentoring Project.

“We welcome the addition of Pamela to our mentoring program, said Pekow. “Her work ethic and creativity will compliment the program nicely and help her relate to the youth in our Amigo Mentoring Project. We are fortunate to have her as the coordinator of this valuable program.”

A graduate of SUNY Oswego, with a BA in Human Development, Thomas had previously worked as a Family Support Services Counselor at Catholic Charities.

Her concern for the youth of our community made the prospect of working with the Amigo Project very appealing to her.

“I am very pleased to be selected as the new coordinator of the Amigo Mentoring Project,” said Thomas. “I am impressed with the success that the Amigo Project has shown over the years. I am looking forward to working with a program that will allow me to focus on the positives in the students’ lives and be a good role model for them. I like the idea of working with high school students and helping them feel more connected to their school and their community. The Amigo Mentoring Project has proven to be an effective program that benefits students in many ways and I am proud to be a part of it.”

The Amigo Mentoring Project, a program of Catholic Charities of Oswego County, is a school based mentoring program that matches elementary school children with high school students and provides them with peer support and a positive role model.

Students meet weekly throughout the school year and spend time together in a variety of ways including tutoring, games, activities and outings.

Mentors provide friendship, guidance, and support through one on one time and group activities.

All activities and meetings are supervised by staff or volunteers of the Amigo Project.

Research has shown that effective mentoring programs benefit students in many ways including; improved peer and family relationships, improved academic performance, and a reduction in acting out behaviors.

Students in the Amigo Project learn the importance of developing healthy relationships with others and develop a better sense of self-esteem.

“One of the biggest benefits for the high school students is that as mentors they gain a sense of responsibility and importance in their lives,” explained Thomas. “They get to experience what it is like to feel needed and appreciated as they are looked up to as a role model for the elementary students which they mentor. Grasping this sense of responsibility at a young age helps them increase their level of maturity.”

As for the elementary students in the program, Thomas sees the extra support system as a tremendous benefit that will make them more likely to succeed both socially and academically.

“They enjoy having a teenager in their life that really cares about them and wants to spend time with them. They look forward to seeing their mentor and doing things together each week,” she added.

As Amigo mentoring project coordinator, Thomas looks to build upon the success of the program and include more group activities for the students involved.

“Thanks to the support the Amigo Project continues to receive from Entergy Nuclear Northeast, Oswego County Opportunities, and the Fulton Community Task Force we are looking forward to hosting more events and get togethers for the students and bringing the benefits of the Amigo Mentoring Project to even more students by increasing the participation in the program,” said Thomas.

“The Amigo Mentoring Project is a wonderful program that not only serves our youth but the community as well. Participants in the Amigo Mentoring Project have been involved with a number of community projects. The care and concern that they develop for their fellow students and their community helps to make them not only better students, but better citizens as well,” added Thomas.

Made possible in part through grants from Entergy Nuclear Northeast, the Oswego County Youth Bureau, United Way of Greater Oswego County, and Oswego County Opportunities, the Amigo Mentoring Project is currently serving students in the Fulton and Sandy Creek school districts.

For more information on becoming a mentor or a volunteer with the Amigo Project, or to learn more about the program, contact Thomas at 598-3980.

Catholic Charities of Oswego County serves all people in need regardless of their religious affiliation.

Primary funding sources for Catholic Charities of Oswego County programs are the United Way of Greater Oswego County, the Diocesan Hope Appeal, the County of Oswego and private donations by individuals and local companies and organizations.

Literacy Volunteers of Oswego County, in partnership with Head Start Center Fort Ontario, Pinewood Head Start Center, and Pulaski Early Learning Center, is proud to announce the early success of its new family literacy program. Children and parents attended the FAB program on Wednesday, July 8th, and left with smiles and a free book. Interactive sessions were held to teach parents about the importance of choosing age appropriate books and to enrich the children’s understanding of the book that was read through crafts and activities.

[caption id="attachment_17579" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The staff at Camp Hollis, Oswego County's residential summer camp, recently installed a new sign to welcome campers and visitors to the facility. The sign was designed and painted by Leanna Chapman. Lumber and materials for the sign were provided by Burke’s Home Center of Oswego. The design, construction of the sign framing and setting were done by Jerry Rounsville and Travis Knox. Pictured in front of the sign, from left, are staff members Rounsville and Knox, Josh Bennett from Burke’s Home Center, and Chapman."][/caption]

The 152nd Oswego County Fair ended on Sunday July 5 with bright sunny sys—a contrast to an otherwise overcast week. Despite the poor weather attendance was steady for the five day event. In our Heritage Hall the crowds were not at all lessened by the weather. Each day we were very busy from early morning through the evening. Of the 22 townships of Oswego County historians from all but three participated in the week’s activities.