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Talbot Mentors gave the students in its program an opportunity to cool off from the recent heat wave with its annual Pool Party at the George Murphy Community Pool in Easton.

About 80 mentees, family members and mentors attended the event. Talbot Mentors provided fried chicken and beverages, with families bringing the potluck side dishes.

Support from the Talbot Optimist Club helps Talbot Mentors hold events like the Pool Party throughout the year. These activities provide opportunities for mentors and mentees to get together, have some fun and meet with others in the program.

Kathy Meehan and her mentee, TyAsia Johnson, were among those attending the Pool Party. Meehan has been matched with TyAsia since April.

With three sons ages 17 to 28, Meehan was going to wait until the youngest was in college to volunteer. However, when she heard of the list of students waiting to be matched, she said, “What am I waiting for?”

Talbot Mentors’ staff carefully matches each volunteer with a child on its list waiting for a mentor. TyAsia is Meehan’s second mentee, after her first match subsequently moved out of the area. “From day one, we clicked,” said Meehan.

The Pool Party is one of many activities that Talbot Mentors provides both for students and their mentors in support of the relationships. For the individual mentors, however, often the simplest one-on-one activities are enough to build the friendships that develop.

“We have Friday Fun Nights,” said Meehan. Every Friday, after Meehan finishes up her work running Easton Point Marina and the Irish Crab Pub, she picks up TyAsia and they spend the evening doing something fun. “We get something to eat, maybe go to a movie,” she said. “This Friday, we are going to my house for dinner and I’m going to teach TyAsia how to knit. We do all the fun stuff I like and she likes, too, and I have a partner to do it all with.”

The two took advantage of the chance to splash around together in the pool on the hot day of the Talbot Mentors party. “We enjoy each other’s company so much,” said Meehan. “She is such an amazing girl.”

More mentors are needed for children on the Talbot Mentors waiting list. Some students may wait a year or more before a volunteer is found for a match.

For more information, to make a contribution, or to volunteer as a mentor, call Talbot Mentors at 410-770-5999 or visit www.talbotmentors.org.