(Posted 2025 July)

The annual spring gathering is a highly anticipated event for participants in the BeFriend-A-Child program. Mentors, mentees and their family members joined us at Burke Lake Park on a beautiful May Saturday for food, fun and fellowship. Thank you to the Fairfax County Park Authority for donating the use of the shelter for our activity, Fairfax Corner Pot Belly for a donated a portion of the lunch, and Cake4Kids who supplied all the cupcakes from local volunteer bakers.

The BeFriend program matches caring adults with 5–12-year-old-mentees who have experienced some trauma in their lives. These mentors develop relationships with the children and pour into their lives to help them overcome challenges.

This year for the first time, the outdoor event added a reptile show by Magnum Exotics for entertainment! After learning about reptile habits including the way they eat and sleep, some of our bravest mentees stepped right up to have their turn holding lizards, turtles, and large snakes. 

There was also a popular guided art activity by Sweet Promises Canvas, which gave families a chance to relax while creating vibrant owl paintings. If that wasn’t enough Baroody Soccer sponsored a free soccer clinic and generous sponsors donated prizes for families and mentors. It was a fun day for everyone from the kids to the volunteers supporting the event. You can watch the event video for more details. 

If fostering the development of children this age sounds like fun to you, consider volunteering to be a mentor. The BeFriend-A-Child Mentoring Program is currently seeking compassionate, dependable adults willing to make a two-year commitment to spend at least eight hours a month with their mentee. 

Scheduling is flexible, with most mentoring time happening on weekends. If you’re ready to be the reason a child smiles, grows, and believes in their potential, visit our website to learn more and apply today.