Last week, Oxford High School freshman Danny Caulder was in need of an adult mentor.
This week, it appears he will finally have one in the form of 64-year-old Oxford resident Ed Cline.
‘I’d been thinking about volunteering for something to help out young people who have problems,? Cline said. ‘Hopefully, they turn out to be a better person in life and help somebody else down the road because they were helped.?
Cline, who’s lived in town for 24 years, decided to sign up for Oxford-Addison Youth Assistance’s Mentors Plus program after reading an article in last week’s Leader about how volunteers are desperately needed to develop positive relationships with at-risk youth like Caulder.
‘I figure if I can help, that’s good,? he said. ‘I’ve got the time. I like working with people and helping people.?
Since 1973, the Mentors Plus program has been matching caring adults with young people who need them. Adults who volunteer their time can choose to work in either prevention, working with an at-risk youngster, or intervention, helping to guide a young person with minor court involvement.
Caulder, whose parents are divorced, was looking for an adult male who could teach him all about working on cars and help him avoid boredom and depression by becoming more active and involved.
‘I knew guys growing up that didn’t have one of their parents and there’s a big void there,? Cline said.
As a retired Chrysler employee, who worked in both blue and white collar positions for 40 years until 2004, and someone who owns and restores classic automobiles, Cline thought he’d be a perfect fit to mentor Caulder.
‘I do what he’s interested in,? he said. ‘He’d learn a lot from me.?
Cline got his first taste of volunteering with young people through The Chrysler Foundation’s Junior Achievement (JA) programs, which involved volunteers going into classrooms and teaching students about entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work force readiness.
As a JA volunteer for about six years, Cline enjoyed teaching kids about how the real world worked and preparing them to be successful in it.
‘All my life, I’ve always liked helping people in general,? he said. ‘Whatever it is, I’ve always enjoyed helping people out. I guess it’s just in me.?
Besides teaching Caulder about transmissions and oil changes, Cline is looking forward to giving the 16-year-old someone to talk to about whatever’s on his mind.
‘I can talk to him, ask him how life’s going in general,? he said. ‘Sometimes it’s easier to talk to a stranger than it is a family member. You feel a little bit more secure.?
Cline, a Vietnam veteran, plans to impress upon Caulder the importance of staying in school and receiving a good education.
He did that with his three grown children and now all of them have master’s degrees. His two daughters are teachers. ‘I’m big on education,? he said.
Cline is hopeful others will join him and volunteer their time with Mentors Plus. ‘If somebody can step in and help a little bit, they should,? he said. ‘If they’ve got the time to do it and the patience to do it, they should do it.?
For more information about Mentors Plus call (248) 969-5177.