First Posted: 3/20/2015
LIMA — What started as a simple sleepover for children has turned into one of the biggest youth events in Lima.
I Am My Brothers Keeper, an event aimed at establishing positive role models for children ages 4 to 13, began its 29th event Friday with basketball drills in the gymnasium at Bradfield Center. Mary Monfort and her partner in the Keeper of the Dream Ministry, Elaine Watkins, host the event annually.
Monfort’s daughters made a request to have a few friends sleep over 30 years ago. That sleepover quickly turned into 75 children, and the event was so much fun the duo established the ministry the next year.
Its effect was immediately noticeable when Wes Pughsley, a recipient of the ministry many years ago, walked into the building. Pughsley exchanged hugs with the women and caught up on old times.
“I lived in a house right up the street,” Pughsley said.
The popular event had already exceeded 100 children by 8 p.m. with many more coming in the door as activities were just getting started. The kids spent the night and went home at 7 a.m. this morning.
Among activities at the event are black history lessons, Bible lessons, basketball skills and fitness. The children also sit in on discussions with themes about respecting yourself, success, and not wasting young minds. Male role models also speak with the older children for a session of Real Talk, where they discuss issues they face while on the edge from turning from boys into young men.
“It is an event where people can come back to give back,” Watkins said. “Many of the people helping out are people that came through the program.”
Monfort said the mission has been so successful that they get help from people they don’t even know.
“Someone will stop and give us a donation or send it in, and we don’t even know who it is,” Monfort said.
The cost is $20 per child, but sponsors have stepped up to provide money for children so no one is turned away.
“We want to motivate them to do well,” Monfort said. “That way, they then reach back later and help others.”
