Diners at Runza made an impact beyond filling their stomachs on Tuesday, September 23. Ten percent of every sale at Runza on Tuesday was donated to area TeamMates Mentoring programs.
The TeamMates Mentoring Program was started in 1991 by Coach Tom Osborn and his wife Nancy. The Osborns knew that positive relationships for youth could change their lives. Since then, over 50,000 mentorship relationships have been forged through the TeamMates Program, both nationwide, and closer to home.
According to Broken Bow Runza Manager Brian Palmer, the staff at the Broken Bow restaurant were extremely busy all day during the fund raising event. Palmer said the store sold around 750 meals on Tuesday, compared to a normal day of 400 to 450.
Palmer was most impressed though with the community effort that went into making the day a success. Volunteers from the local TeamMates chapters were on hand all day, helping to clean, deliver meals in store and around the community and generally willing to pitch in where ever they were needed.
In the time the Runza organization of around 90 stores has been involved in raising funds for TeamMates, over $476,000 had been raised. Palmer was confident this year’s efforts would take that sum over $500,000.
Broken Bow TeamMates mentor Colleen Gates also spoke with KCNI/KBBN about the fundraising effort. According to Gates, the money raised will be split between three programs in Broken Bow, Anselmo/Merna and Callaway.
Gates noted that being a mentor is really most about being their for your mentee.
“That’s what it’s all about, really. It really is. We don’t want to be a teacher. We don’t want to be a parent. We just want to be there for them,” Gates said. “And if they want to talk, that’s what we want to do. If they want to do something else, we’re willing to do something else. It’s just getting to know them and just be there for them.”
Gates said that currently there are 9 potential mentees in the Broken Bow program waiting for a mentor. Those interested in volunteering to be a mentor can contact Program Coordinator Mathia Shumaker at 308.872.6821 ext. 216, or sign-up on-line at TeamMates.org.
