History of Kinship

Kinship of the Park Rapids Area is a mentoring program that matches children with adult volunteers to provide friendship and positive role models. The program was founded in 1954 by four theological students in Minneapolis, and it has since expanded. As of 2022, there are currently 19 affiliates throughout Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin

Kinship of the Park Rapids Area serves children ages 6 to 19 who live in Park Rapids and the surrounding area. Many of the children in the program come from single-parent families or live with alternative guardians. Mentors can be individuals, couples, or families, and the goal of mentoring is to provide a positive adult influence in a child’s life.

Mentees and mentors are matched according to their interests, location, age, and needs. The commitment is to spend at least one hour together each week for a minimum of one year. Kinship stays in contact with the matched pair to offer support and guidance. The program also offers monthly activities that all matches can attend.

Kinship of the Park Rapids Area believes that every child deserves a positive adult friend, and that mentoring can make a real difference in a child’s life. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please contact Kinship of the Park Rapids Area today. If we positively affect the life of a child, we positively affect our community’s future

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