Ted Goins said mentoring keeps him young.
ěI have gotten more out of it than they have,î he said.
Goins takes time out of his job as president and CEO of Lutheran Services for the Aging each week to be lunch buddy or reading buddy at Koontz Elementary School.
The 53-year-old Salisbury resident has been volunteering with Communities in Schools for the past five years.
He describes the experience as ěmeaningfulî and cites ěhearing a student improve in reading skills from one week to the nextî as his most rewarding moment.
Goins decided to become a mentor after Communities in Schools gave a presentation at his church.
ěI was struck by the need,î he said. ěAlso, it really does take a village.
ěIf we want our local schools to be successful, we canít leave it to others.î