Hand-in-Hand with students

Ms. Amanda’s PreK class joined volunteers at the Midway Project’s food distribution in February and what a great day it was! The kids made welcome signs, greeted neighbors, helped hand out food, and made and distributed special smiley face stickers.
The Hamline-to-Hamline Collaboration’s volunteer mentor program, Hand in Hand, is up and running strong in the new year. Once a student organization at Hamline University, Hand in Hand is a volunteer mentor program that pairs Hamline Elementary students with Hamline University students, faculty, and staff for lunchtime games and conversation. For 30 minutes every week, mentors and their buddies discuss everything from their favorite movies and preferred snacks to what it’s like to be a college student.
Ally, a psychology and education co-major, has been a mentor since spring 2024. Here’s how she describes her experience mentoring two second graders, “Having lunch with my second grade buddies is something I always look forward to. It’s the coolest thing to see how much they’ve both changed since last year, and I can’t imagine what they’ll be like next year as third graders. When we started, they barely spoke to me and now they tell stories, ask questions, joke, and laugh. They have such bright personalities, and I feel really lucky to be able to spend time with them and learn about them and how they see the world.”
Mike Reynolds, an English professor and a Hamline Midway neighbor, has been a mentor for several years. “We had a fantastic conversation a couple of weeks ago about monsters (tied to stuff I’m teaching at Hamline U), where they tried to make up the scariest version of a monster they could. I have been having lunch with my current mentee and some rotating group of his friends for two full years now, and I look forward to hearing about what games they are playing and what happened in class that morning. I have had deep conversations about what they like (and are most frustrated) about the neighborhood, and I have had silly conversations about pet names. Both are equally valuable to me.”
The Hand in Hand Program is supported by the Hamline-to-Hamline Coordinator at Hamline Elementary, Alex Troy. “Hand in hand mentoring is one of the most rewarding programs I have ever been a part of. It is often the highlight of my day to watch students, faculty, and staff from Hamline University build meaningful connections with Hamline Elementary students. The joy that mentors and mentees get from spending time together, even for just 30 minutes per week, is visible through smiles and laughter that fill the room.”