Child in Need Help make waiting list a short list Plain and simple, Kinship wants the waiting list gone.

Over the summer months, the list of kids waiting for adult partners has crept up to nearly 50. It is almost as high as when Kinship Partners ran its successful "100 Mentors in 100 Days" campaign in the fall of 2007. The numbers are growing and with a new school year under way, Kinship anticipates many new referrals from area schools and agencies working with children and families.

Our local Kinship Partners has waiting kids throughout Crow Wing and southern Cass counties - 23 in the Brainerd area, 12 around Crosby and another 12 in Pequot Lakes and Pine River-Backus. Plain and simple. Can you help?

As you begin to plan your calendar for the upcoming months ahead, think about how much fun it would be to include a child in need. Watching football or, dare we say, the Twins in the World Series? Raking up a big pile of leaves? Freezing apples? Cruising the lake on a warm fall afternoon? All we ask is for a couple hours of your time each week - doing what you usually do. Plain and simple.

Michael is one of the newest boys to join the waiting list. He is a first-grader at Lake Region Christian School and lives near Pelican Lake in Merrifield with his mom and step-dad.

Mom wants a mentor for Michael who will help him learn to make good choices. She describes him as outgoing and loving and says he likes to meet new people. He enjoys water activities, puzzles, sports and riding bike. Michael even has an interest in learning to play the piano.

Fall is all about change so please consider befriending Michael or another child on our waiting lists. You can read all of their profiles on our website at www.kinshippartners.org. It only takes a few hours each week to impact a young life. Plain and simple.

Contact Kinship at (218) 829-4606 or info@kinship partners.org for more information.