Friends and Neighbors: Gerners have helped with mentoring through TeamMates program for years

Kimball residents Don and Mary Gerner hope the TeamMates mentoring program has helped those they have mentored as much as it has enriched their own lives.

The couple has been involved with the program for several years now and enjoy working with the youth.

"As you can tell, we're pretty old," Don said with a laugh. "That's the part that I enjoy, being in contact with the young people."

"I'd like to think that we can be a plus in their lives. If they have a concern about something - not family problems, that's not it. I think they feel safe with us," Mary said.

Don grew up in Dorchester, which is just southwest of Lincoln in eastern Nebraska. He graduated from Doane College and then went on dental school at the University of Nebraska. He moved to Kimball in 1956 to open a dental practice and has been here since.

Mary grew up in Siloam Springs, Ark. She began college at John Brown University and then transferred to Northeastern State Teacher's College (now Northeastern State University) in Talequah, Okla. Mary's previous husband died in 1981 while she was teaching in Medicine Bow, Wyo. She called her sister looking for a dentist who was open on a Saturday. Her sister, who lived in Pine Bluffs, got her an appointment with Don. Three years after that first appointment, he called and asked her to dinner. They have now been married for 31 years.

TeamMates was founded in 1991 by legendary University of Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne and his wife, Nancy, "to provide support and encouragement for school aged youth." TeamMates has been mentoring in Kimball schools for a decade. Don started mentoring not long after the program started in Kimball, and Mary joined after that.

During their involvement in the program, Mary has mentored three youths and Don has mentored two. Don's first mentee started with him while he was in junior high and kept with him until he graduated high school.

Mary said they meet with those who they mentor and discuss whatever they would like to discuss.

"We're an encourager," she said. "You meet with them and...it's the one on one, and they understand that we don't go out and broadcast anything about them. And I think they realize, too, that they are very special to us. That's important to them and that's important to us, too."

"There is a certain confidentiality about it. You focus in on their problems and you try to give them guidance if they seem to want it, and most of them do," Don added.

Those who serve in the TeamMates program meet with their mentees once a week during the school year. Most of the time they meet for an hour, but Mary said that depends on the mentee's schedule.

"My mentee has one free period, and I hesitate to use all of that hour with her because sometimes she needs time with a teacher or to do some reading or anything like that," she said. "We have an understanding, if you're busy, (we can change plans). Also, if I'm needed at any other time, if you have any other concerns and need some help, I'll be glad to do so."

Mary said the program is a success because it allows youths to talk freely with an adult that is not their parent or a teacher.

"I see it with them as a link with the outside world, other than their parents and teachers," she said.

"Sometimes, they won't even tell their parents about some of this stuff that's bothering them. As a mentee, they're safe. They can relate to you," Don added.

The Gerners said that although the program greatly helps the mentees, they are the ones who most benefit from it. Mary taught for 37 years before retiring, and said it has reconnected them with the school and allowed them to know more of what is going on there.

"For the most part, the last several years, we hadn't been that active going to the basketball games," she said. "This year, my mentee plays basketball. This is a new year for me with her. She plays basketball, so we were at the girls basketball games. It has been a special gift, to me, anyway. I have enjoyed it."

The two have formed bonds with those whom they have mentored. Mary visited with a previous mentee over the Christmas break and keeps in touch with her regularly through her family.

"After my second mentee graduated last year, I got a letter from her mother. Oh, it just brought me to tears as I read it, because you have no idea what you're doing at times," Mary said.

Mary also said they try to meet with their mentees at least once a month over the summer break.

Don said Carolyn Montgomery, who is a board member for the program, helps pair the mentors and mentees up so there is a match. He has a mentee that wants to go into the medical field, and his background as a dentist helps.

"She does a fantastic job. It's very time-consuming," Mary said.

Mary said they have been concerned about the age gap between themselves and the students, but said it seems to work out. She also said her last two mentees asked for her specifically.

"They asked for grandma," Don said with a smile.

"The interesting thing for me, this mentee asked for me, because mine had graduated last year," Mary added.

"As long as these kids will gravitate toward you, good. And we do care about these young people," Don said.

The Gerners said that more people should get involved with the program. Those wishing to mentor should contact Montgomery at Kimball Junior/Senior High School. There are currently over 40 mentors in the program, but more can always be used.

"I don't know why more people aren't interested in this, because there are folks that do have talents," Don said. "I would highly recommend it. It keeps you in contact with the young people."

"I just think it's a really important program that we have going on here, and it should always continue," Mary added.