Kinneer, who has been volunteering as a math helper for several years in Wellman, is involved as a coordinator with a new Council of Mid-Prairie Churches project called the Mid-Prairie Caring Community Initiative. She and Kelly Galiher, student advocate at Mid-Prairie schools, are heading up the effort to bring more community volunteers into the classrooms. The greatest need at the time is for the schools in Kalona.
The effort began three years ago in response to several youth suicides in the area, said Kinneer, with the churches asking what they could do to help.
The resulting Caring Community Initiative was created with the expressed goal of "building and enhancing a positive and nurturing environment on behalf of the children and youth of our community."
Husband Bill Kinneer was already involved with the school system as a mentor, now working with his fifth charge. Both say that children who don't feel good about themselves will do poorly in school, with that lack of academic success leading to even a lower self-esteem. These at-risk students are more likely to make poor life-choices that can lead to dropping out of school, crime and teen pregnancies.
"People can close their eyes and say this is not happening in our community, but they're wrong," said Kinneer.
Kinneer went to her own church in February, the Asbury United Methodist Church in Wellman, to present the initiative and ask for volunteers. Her congregation responded enthusiastically with 30 returning volunteer sign-up sheets.
The effort continued in April when a community discussion of teen problems was held soon after Galiher was hired. Through the summer, Kinneer explained the program to church representatives and teachers.
The volunteer questionnaire asks what talents and gifts the applicant has and would like to share, as well as when they'd be available, the school subjects they enjoy, what grade level they'd like to be involved with and if they'd like to participate in special programs like a "Kids Club" or becoming a "Seminar Parent" at the high school.
Kinneer and Galiher review the applications to match the talents and wants with the needs. These are then given to the teachers, who often contact the volunteers themselves. Kinneer stressed that these are not ironclad commitments. She normally volunteers for an hour four days a week, but simply calls in ahead of time to cancel whenever she has a scheduling problem.
And not every applicant will be called if they do not have available times or talents that fit the school needs, she added.
Volunteers can make a difference, noted Bill Kinneer. His first few mentoring assignments dealt with students who were getting into trouble at school and were at risk of running afoul with the law. Though they went through some rough times dealing with issues, most eventually worked them out.
The most recent students have been those with scholastic needs.
He pointed to an example of how a volunteer can make a real difference. An alternative school student lacked an algebra credit to graduate. Needing extra help, the school contacted a listed volunteer who worked with the student to pass the course. Without that help, the student would not have graduated.
"There is research-driven evidence that mentoring is the number one tool to prevent kids from school failure and delinquency," said Galiher. "Mentoring works and that we know. There is no substitute for human relations. We can give them all the information and strategies they need, but a real person makes all the difference."
Kinneer said she is hoping for more help from Kalona residents and churches. Those wanting to volunteer can contact their church's representative with the iniative. Those who are not a member of a church can contact Kinneer at 646-2962 or judykinneer@netins.net - or Galiher at 646-6096 or kswift@mid-prairie.k12.ia.us.
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