Bow & Arrow Mentorship Program
Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness & Transforming Young Lives
Overview
The Bow & Arrow Mentorship Program was established in 2021 to empower youth experiencing homelessness, poverty, and unstable living conditions with positive role models to deliver life guidance and stability through mentorship and fun, educational activities.
We refer to our mentors as 'Bows' and the children as 'Arrows' because, just as a bow guides an arrow to hit its target, so also our 'Bows' guide our 'Arrows' to hit their targets in life.
Through our partnerships with The Salvation Army and other shelters and transitional housing units, FTN staff & caring volunteers visit these locations and meet the families where they are at to build trust and invite them to join our program. Through the Bow & Arrow program, children experiencing hardship are given life-changing opportunities through mentorship and education.
Together, our Bows give energy to the Arrows and provide direction. They work together to reach goals and hit their targets in life. Through interactive experiences, our Bows are able to motivate, build trust, and instill confidence in the children they mentor. One child at a time, we watch our Arrows overcome adversity. We encourage them and applaud as they learn to hit their targets in life.
How We Change Lives
FTN hosts bimonthly events with help from our volunteers, staff, corporate partners, and community partners.
For The Need hosts a variety of exciting and well-organized events throughout the year. Children and their families are invited to participate in themed adventures, sports activities, and educational opportunities. Our events revolve around team building, acquiring new skills and positive exposure to leaders within the community. Each event is filled with fun activities, food and refreshments, social engagement, and focus on learning an important life skill all at zero cost to the families.
The Pillars of Bow & Arrow
Each of these pillars are reflected in the themes of our events.
Goal-Setting
An Arrow (the mentee) is aimless without a target. And an Arrow needs a Bow for guidance. We introduce micro and macro goal setting to children of all ages at our annual Rocket Launch Day, where each child sets the goal to build and launch their own rocket!
Teamwork
We inspire teamwork through trust-building activities, lessons on friendship, and by being a reliable team for each other.
Resilience
Mental Health and Resilience go hand in hand. By building a strong team around you, having a strong sense of purpose, and by keeping perspective on what's most important, even children who lack everything can accomplish anything.
Physical Activity
Staying physically active at even a minimal level is crucial to living a healthy lifestyle. Being outdoors, having fun, playing team sports, and exercising are all encouraged at For the Need.
Practical Life Skills
Not only do we aim to build the character in children needed to succeed, but we also aspire to connect them with opportunities, so they can realize their own unique potential. We teach financial education as well as practical job application advice and resume building. As an Arrow ages out of our program, they are invited to join our Arrow Alumni Launch Program.
Gratitude
In keeping with our theme verse Philippians 4:11-13, we inspire our children and families to be grateful for what they do have and to find hope in something bigger than themselves.
With the help of our Bows, every young Arrow is given the opportunity to discover character and potential they may never have known they had.
Who are the Arrows?
FTN makes opportunities available to children experiencing homelessness and unstable living conditions. At times, the children invited to participate in our program have family members who are chronically ill. Often, the families we serve live in shelters, motels, or even cars, trying to transition to permanent housing. Our goal is to locate children that might exist in these conditions and show them how to become an active participant in shaping a better outcome for their future.
Who are the Bows?
Bows are our trusted mentors. To become a Bow, you must be at least 18 years of age or older, pass a livescan background check, and complete our training process, which you will receive once you apply.
We request that you commit to at least four of our six annual events. This commitment allows for FTN to be a pillar of stability in the children's already unstable lives, while growing a bond and creating great memories to last a lifetime.
Crossbows - Mentors in Training
Young future mentors, called Crossbows, have the opportunity to work alongside our Bows as 'mentors in training.' Crossbows arrive to each event eager to help and connect with our Arrows, creating a culture of fun and learning as a peer. Crossbows are aged 13-18.
Once an Arrow in our program turns 18, they are invited to be a Crossbow, where they can gain valuable leadership skills and share their experiences with the next generation.
Safety & Security
The safety and security of our children is our priority. All of our Mentors and staff are put through intense background checks and training such as Live Scan and a Department of Justice background investigation.
Our Safety & Security team is dedicated to ensuring the safe arrival, participation, and departure of all participants and volunteers at our events.
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