The presence of positive adult role models in a child’s life is incredibly important to their mental and physical health. Whether it’s a family member, teacher, coach, neighbor or any other responsible adult who can fill a role as mentor, confidant and friend to a struggling child, the relationship can be life-changing for a developing mind.

Many children are fortunate enough to have that in the form of parents or caretakers, but others aren't so lucky.

So for those who might slip through the cracks, or even for those who have adult mentors but still find themselves seeking more, volunteers with the United Way of Pueblo County’s Middle School Mentor Program, such as 34-year-old Reid Weber, are there to fill the void.

“The goal and the way it gives back is just to be another adult in this kid’s life who they can talk to, who’s not going to judge them,” Weber said.

“It’s just being that adult they can talk to, be around and count on. That’s what we’re there to do.”

Weber began volunteering with the United Way Middle School Mentor Program four years ago.

The program entails spending time each week with a local kid at a participating school. Volunteers start mentoring the child in the 6th grade and follow them through middle school until they’re ready to depart for high school.

“Basically, while they’re in school, you just go spend an hour with them once a week,” Weber said.

“So that can be around lunch time or, really, any time, but I usually go at lunch. I’ll pick up lunch from a restaurant around town, we sit down and eat lunch together and play cards or go play basketball or anything like that. Really, it’s just about giving them that one-on-one time.”

Now that he’s four years into the volunteer program, Weber’s first mentee is now in high school. And over the three years they got to bond with one another, Weber said he saw firsthand the positive impact of the program.

“I started with him in 6th grade in Pueblo West, but he ended up moving to Heroes Academy, which also has the program, so I was able to follow him,” Weber recalled.

“And through that transition and some other things that were going on in his life, I was able to be that stable adult in his life that was going to be there every single week and give him that one-on-one attention that he needed.

“And I saw some behavior improvements and grade improvements, but that’s not really my goal. I’m just there to be with them, hang out and just talk.”

Weber, who also serves on the board of the United Way, said he enjoys that the program enables him to be a resource for local kids, walk a metaphorical mile in their shoes and, also, to give back to his community.

“Being born and raised in Pueblo, I really care about our town,” Weber said.

“I want good things for everybody here, and I want to expose people to all the cool things we’ve got going on here.”

zhillstrom@chieftain.com

Twitter: @ZachHillstrom