More Than Just A Lunch Buddy

Troy and Aaron have been matched since 2005 through Yakima Family YMCA’s MCIP program. They have met for lunch almost every Friday for three years. On occasion they will play baseball in the park or go rollerblading or work on one of Troy’s school projects but both of them say it is their Friday lunches they look forward to most. Troy says “It feels cool to always have a friend around, someone to help you with problems, kind of like a big brother”. Troy’s mom has this to say about having Aaron mentor her son, “Its been good for Troy. It’s helped him a lot with his self-esteem. It gives him someone to talk to; there are things he just doesn’t want to talk about with his mom”.