Photo by Mike Brothers
Last week 36 Lunch Buddies from Okaw Valley elementary school in Bethany and the middle school in Findlay gathered at OVES to celebrate the year of companionships developed during lunchtime mentoring. Students presented their Lunch Buddies certificates following the celebration.

•May 17, 2017•

By Mike Brothers

Okaw Valley District schools realize it takes a village to raise a child, and the villages served get it.

Last week 36 Lunch Buddies gathered at the elementary school in Bethany honoring the adult and student mentors for these young students.

“At Okaw Valley we are a family” Lunch Buddy and Supt. Kent Stauder said. “We strive to help our students succeed in and out of the classroom.”

“What I have discovered is that we get as much from the time with our lunch buddies as we give,” he continued.

How the district got people outside the classroom involved began five years ago with an idea developed by two district staff members and a community member.

Middle and elementary school counselor Paula Coffer explained she, high school counselor Jena Atchison, and parent Vanessa Patient were brainstorming ways to collaborate with the community to help the kids.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.