On Sunday, New Jersey matches spent the snowy afternoon ice skating at the Red Bank Armory.  Mentees and their mentors braved the cold weather and arrived at the Amory excited to skate and see their friends.  For some, it was their first time ice skating.  Mentor Chad Rybka was one of those novice ice skaters and luckily his mentee taught him how to skate.  Chad was happy he had such a great teacher!  Heidi, one of the mentors commented that she was really proud of her mentee for working up the courage to stop using the walker and then slowly skate away from the wall. In addition, she feels that these small victories really build her mentee’s confidence.

The matches were asked to bring a holiday gift, which will be donated, to a local NYC shelter for woman and children as part of the Tuesday’s Children “Helping Heals” initiative.  Their generosity is greatly appreciated.  While eating lunch, the group made holiday cards for the woman and children in the shelter.  Mentor Heidi Lynch said, “It was a great afternoon!  The children really seemed to embrace the idea of helping other children.”  When New Jersey Mentoring Coordinator, Danielle Cooperhouse, explained where the gifts and cards were going, the kids got excited and took pride in creating their cards.  “Overall the afternoon was a success!” 

Mentor Chad Rybka with his mentee enjoyed skating around

the rink together

Two mentees getting ready to skate on the ice!

Mentor Karl Gerhardt and his mentee smile for the camera

Mentor Chad and his mentee put on their skates

For all those who had not skated before, each person practiced

with these walkers before skating on their own

Mentor Heidi Lynch and her mentee loved

the chance to get together and skate