UWNEMN's Lunch Buddies mentoring program matches elementary school children with caring adult mentors to share one lunch break/week at school. The program was originally piloted in Hibbing's Washington and Greenhaven schools in 2020 and paired 16 first graders with mentors. The program continues to grow and is now operating in 13 elementary schools across the region. UWNEMN developed this program with input from local experts and direct support from MENTOR Minnesota.
What is the need?
At the time the original Lunch Buddies pilot was launched, Hibbing school staff estimated more than 30 percent of their students could benefit from a program like this.
The latest research in building youth resiliency finds increasing positive childhood experiences (PCEs) provides a buffer for children who have experienced trauma - and those who may experience trauma in the future. Studies show that the more supportive experiences any child has with family, friends, and people in their school and community, the better their adult mental health is likely to be!
Where is Lunch Buddies available?
Mentors will be matched with students in the following schools in the 2025-2026 school year:
- Cherry School Tuesdays (tentative)
- Falls Elementary School (International Falls) Wednesdays (tentative)
- Floodwood School Tuesdays (tentative)
- Greenhaven Elementary School (Hibbing) Lunch Buddies Day TBA
- Keewatin Elementary School Tuesdays (tentative)
- Laurentian Elementary School (Eveleth) Tuesdays (tentative)
- Merritt Elementary School (Mountain Iron) Wednesdays (tentative)
- Mesabi East School (Aurora) Mondays (tentative)
- Northeast Range School (Babbitt) Tuesdays (tentative)
- North Star Elementary School (Virginia) Tuesdays (tentative)
- Parkview Elementary School (Virginia) Wednesdays (tentative)
- Vaughan-Steffensrud Elementary School (Chisholm) Mondays (tentative)
- Washington Elementary School (Ely) Lunch Buddies Day TBA
If you are interested in serving as a Lunch Buddies mentor for the 2025-2026 school year in a school not listed above, please contact sarah@unitedwaynemn.org or 218-215-2570.
Apply to Be a Mentor
Mentor requirements:
- Mentors must be 18+.
- Have ability to travel to school on a weekly basis.
- Complete an application, fill out an interest survey (for matching with mentors), and provide references.
- Pass a background check and interview with UWNEMN program staff.
- Complete training.
- Commit to meeting with mentee one hour/week for designated length of program.
APPLY BY SEPTEMBER 26TH: 2025-2026 Lunch Buddies Mentor Application
Enroll Your School
If you'd like to bring Lunch Buddies mentoring program to your school in the 2025-2026 school year, please contact sarah@unitedwaynemn.org or 218-254-3329 to set up a preliminary meeting.
School requirements:
- Provide a private room during the lunch hour for Lunch Buddies mentors and mentees.
- Refer students, collect appropriate paperwork from students' guardian(s), and return paperwork to UWNEMN.
- This program is currently for elementary schools only.
Ideally the program is meant to take place throughout the entire school year with first or second grade students, but schedules and age ranges can be flexible depending on school needs.
Refer A Child
If your school is participating in Lunch Buddies mentoring program, and you know a child who could benefit from an additional adult role model, please contact your school office for referral forms and next steps.
Donate to Support the Program
Donations to UWNEMN's Lunch Buddies program provide games and activities for mentors/mentees, training and screening for mentors, and coordination of the program. Click here to donate to the program!
UWNEMN's Lunch Buddies mentoring program screens and trains local adults and matches them with a local student who could benefit from an additional positive adult role model to meet once a week at school during the lunch hour!
How it Works
- School enrolls in the Lunch Buddies program.
- UWNEMN begins recruiting and screening mentors from nearby communities.
- School staff refers children for program and collects parent signatures on UWNEMN-provided materials.
- School selects Lunch Buddies day and provides room to be used once/week for Lunch Buddies.
- UWNEMN matches mentors with enrolled students, trains mentors, and coordinates meeting dates.
- Children receive additional support from a trustworthy adult friend!
.png)
Interested in learning more?
Contact sarah@unitedwaynemn.org or 218-254-3329.
Over the course of the 2022-2023 school year, United Way of Northeastern Minnesota worked with Wilder Research to survey and interview school staff, parents and guardians, and - most importantly - students themselves across our service area to help ensure our partners and programs, like Lunch Buddies, are best serving our local youth.
FULL REPORT: Needs Assessment of Youth Mental Health and Well-being in Northeast Minnesota