Mr. Duck started mentoring families who were facing homelessness three years ago when the Family Mentor Alliance program was started in Colorado Springs. Of course, Mr. Duck is not his real name– it is a moniker given to him unwittingly by children who heard “duck” instead of “Doug” and thus he has a new name and a title of endearment.

In a mentoring relationship, it is easy to focus on the benefits to the mentored person…someone guiding, modeling, teaching, supporting. But a mentoring relationship is a mutual relationship and the benefits are as great for those mentoring as for the “recipient.” Just ask Mr. Duck! “The right to help an adult must be hard earned, and is so worth it. But with kids, so little is required to witness such joy.”Mr. Duck, like all people, has experienced hurts and disappointments, endured heartaches and brokenness. But Mr. Duck has also been blessed with a mom and dad and brother who have loved and supported him emotionally, his entire life. Although “poor” growing up, he never faced the possibility of homelessness nor worried about his next meal. Overall, he had a wonderful childhood and an amazing support system that has surrounded him throughout his life.

After having his own family, he began to see more and more people, parents and children, who had horrific things happen in their early years and later. And he met folks who had made some poor choices, and suffered some dire consequences for those choices. But he also discovered that the consequences they faced were often hugely disproportionate to the mistakes they made. When unfortunate circumstances or consequences occurred, instead of it being a barrier to overcome, it often turned into a tragedy and one that could seem insurmountable. Similar problems to what his own children faced did not result in the same consequences – again, because they had a loving support system and family to help offset the pain and provide resources.So Mr. Duck decided that he wanted to pour himself, and not just his resources, into walking alongside and supporting people who had not been blessed with the same opportunities and relationships he has had. He wanted to give back. But…He GOT BACK!When Mr. Duck comes to the household of five children and their mom & dad, he is welcomed with open arms, smiles, hugs, and kids jumping all over him yelling, “Mr. Duck! Mr. Duck!” He recently got to go to the North Pole/Santa’s Workshop in Cascade, Colorado (many thanks to Tom Haggard and the North Pole for their generosity in providing this fun day!) and spent the day with joyful, exuberant children living fully in the moment enjoying life and each other. They spent another day in the park, celebrating birthdays, flying a kite and eating a picnic. Simple things – but rich and delightful!When the family celebrated the joyous birth of their 5^th child, Mr. Duck got to hold the new infant within hours of her birth. When one of the children was asked to draw a picture of people who were important in her life, the picture included herself, her Mom, Shelley (another Mentor) and Mr. Duck. They moved from strangers to beloved people is each other’s lives.

Mr. Duck now proudly hangs a “Mr. Duck” sign in his office, given by the family that he has built a relationship with – this is a treasured possession! The mom says about Mr. Duck, “He is such a great man and we are incredibly lucky to have him in our life and on our team ! He makes us light up each time we see him :) our kids talk more about our mentors than ever about family members. It"s been such a awarding experience being a part of FMA !” Mr. Duck says it is mutual and he couldn’t say it better!