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Mentoring Opportunities

The Power of a Mentor

Now more than ever, youth are in desperate need of positive role models; someone to support them, guide them, and let them know they matter. Through a positive mentoring relationship, you can have a direct and lasting impact on a young person's life.

The Y offers two mentoring programs: Reach & Rise and Big Brothers Big Sisters at the Y. Both programs match adult volunteers to young people ages 6-18, who need the presence of responsible and caring adults in their lives. We provide training and a complimentary Y membership for you and your mentee so you can participate in the many fun and enriching opportunities at the Y. 

We accept new mentors (and mentees) everyday. If you understand the power one positive adult can have in the life of a young person, BECOME A Y MENTOR and help build the futures of Central Maryland's youth.

Reach & Rise

Reach & Rise is a series of mentoring programs where adult volunteers are trained to develop safe, healthy and significant relationships with youth to impact their lives in positive ways. All mentors must be age 21 or older and pass a background check. All mentors will receive comprehensive training before being paired with a mentee. <

One-on-One Mentoring

A year long mentoring opportunity for youth ages 6-17. Mentors and mentees meet two hours a week at a Y Center. Participate in Y activities like open swim, rock wall, and open gym, sit and talk about whatever's on your mind, get help with homework, and more.

Mentors and mentees receive a complimentary one-year youth or adult membership to the Y while in the program.

Group Mentoring

A 12-week program for youth ages 8-15. Two volunteer mentors are paired with six youth mentees. Volunteers provide group mentoring services and create safe, healthy and meaningful relationships within the group.

This program is ideal for adult mentors who may prefer volunteering with a spouse, partner or friend.

Badges for Baseball

A 13-week program for youth ages 10-14 that meets once a week in the Spring and Fall. Volunteers and law enforcement officers use sports like baseball to break down barriers and open up lines of communication.

If you are interested in volunteering as an adult mentor in Reach & Rise program (or know a child you’d like to refer to a program), please contact Rhea Butler, MSW, Regional Coordinator, at 410-615-6522 or rheabutler@ymaryland.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters at the Y

Big Brothers Big Sisters at the Y is Maryland's largest volunteer mentoring network with over 600 mentor/mentee matches. Through this program we make meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 6-18, in Baltimore City and the five surrounding counties.

Get involved! The action that you take today will change a child's life for the better, forever.

Get details here about Big Brothers Big Sisters at the Y.

Learn More and Get Started
Reuse Renew

A Better World and Stronger Y through Reuse

Clothing and household goods are one of the largest polluters in the world. Through a special partnership with Savers, a global thrift retailer whose business helps more than 120 non-profit organizations, your donations of gently used clothing and household items are recycled or given a second chance, while at the same time raising funds to support the Y's charitable mission.

Donations given to Community Donation Centers in Parkville and Owings Mills result in funds raised to support children and families in our Y communities who can't otherwise afford to participate in Y programs.

The following Community Donation Centers accept donations on behalf of the Y:

Savers Community Donation Center in Parkville 1925 E Joppa Rd, Towson, MD 410-663-7481

Savers Community Donation Center in Owings Mills 9800 Reisterstown Rd, Owings Mills, MD 410-581-6802

Did You Know...

  • The average person throws away 81 pounds of clothing per year.
  • It takes over 700 gallons of water to make one new cotton t-shirt.
  • 95% of the clothes people throw away could be recycled.

As an organization that focuses on social responsibility, we encourage everyone to recycle and reuse using any means that are readily available. As a charitable organization, we ask that you consider donating to the Community Donation Centers list above to support our mission to remove income as a barrier so that all who wish to, can participate in Y programs.

How to Donate Items

There are three easy ways you can donate goods to support the Y's charitable mission:

DONATION DROP-OFF: As you're out and about, swing by one of the designated Savers Community Donation Centers in Parkville or Owings Mills and drop off your donated clothing and/or household items.

  • Savers Donation Center in Parkville: 1925 E Joppa Rd, Towson, MD
  • Savers Donation Center in Owings Mills: 9800 Reisterstown Rd, Owings Mills, MD

SCHEDULE A DONATION PICK-UP: Savers will come to you! Schedule a home pick-up of donated clothing and/or household items and a Savers truck will come to your home to get them. You may schedule a home pick-up here,

Y FUNDRIVES: Rally the troops and get friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers involved! Periodically, the Y will hold Clothing FUNdrives to collect gently used, unwanted clothing and household items at our Y Centers. These are great opportunities to clean out your closet and help those in need. The more bags donated, the more funds we raise to support children and families who can't otherwise afford Y programs.

For questions or more information about donation drop-offs or scheduling a pick-up, please contact Savers at 1-844-700-2227 or email charitypickup@apogeeretail.com.

What You Can Donate

The items below are acceptable for drop-off or home pick-up donations.

  • Clothing and shoes: men, women, kids, infants
  • Housewares: clocks, rugs, lamps
  • Small appliances: irons, microwaves, sewing machines, vacuum cleaners
  • Accessories hats, mittens, scarves, ties, socks, purses, wallets, backpacks, bags
  • Bed and bath items:: towels, sheets, blankets, pillows
  • Media: DVDs, CDs, software, books
  • Small furniture: chairs, desks, coffee/end tables, night stands, patio furniture

If you are unsure if an item you want to donate is acceptable, please check with the Community Donation Center you intend to donate to:

Savers Community Donation Center in Parkville 1925 E Joppa Rd, Towson, MD 410-663-7481

Savers Community Donation Center in Owings Mills 9800 Reisterstown Rd, Owings Mills, MD 410-581-6802