Connecting with youth through mentorship and shared activities

Timber Bay, a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a Buffalo presence established in 1996, is a faith-based organization whose mission is to help youth create deep, healthy, long-term relationships with peers and mentors. During the nearly 30-year span, numerous mentors and mentees have built positive connections and mutually beneficial relationships that have led to personal growth and wellbeing, while creating a sense of purpose and belonging.  

The Project

Buffalo Area Director Ben Harvey recently shared a passion project used to connect with Timber Bay youth that began four-and-a-half years ago after an automobile motor in need of maintenance was donated to the organization. Harvey originally planned to put the motor in an old vehicle to work on with kids who were interested, but while speaking at an area church, Ben learned of an independent auto shop owner in Cokato who builds engines. After reaching out; Ben and his group were invited to the shop owner’s garage. “We spent a year building the motor. In the meantime, we found a truck, because the car I was going to put the motor in didn’t work out, it was too rusted.”    

The truck in reference, a 1978 Chevy C10 Big 10, was originally going to be purchased out of pocket, but via a generous donation, funding came through prior to the out-of-pocket purchase. “100 Women Who Care in Wright County gave us the first grant for the project, and we were able to buy the truck,” shared Harvey.  

Most every part of the truck, other than the body, has been redone—the motor, transmission, suspension, brakes, and electrical. Harvey stated that the interior, along with some buffing and sanding on the body, will be worked on this winter. “The goal of the project is to work on it each winter and drive it during the summer months and let the kids take it to car shows.” 

Building Connection

Harvey is quick to highlight that the project is not about rebuilding an old truck, it’s about building relationships with youth through a shared interest. 

“The way I connect with kids at Timber Bay is through cars. I’ve always used the word ‘excuse.’ Anytime we meet with kids, we want to find excuses to spend time together, whatever that looks like. I like working on cars. We started out by working on our Timber Bay vehicles, changing oil, and swapping tires. Then, this project came along. It’s all about finding ways to spend time with kids. We mentor the kids, and as we’re working, we’re talking and sharing.”

Some of the youth who originally helped restore the C10 have continued their connection to Timber Bay through the project.

“Part of the great thing about this is that it took four-and-a-half years for it to get on the road, and there are kids who have been gone for a couple of years,” stated Harvey. “I tell them, the truck’s running again, let’s get together. It’s an excuse to reconnect. We don’t cut kids off when they graduate and become adults. One of our mottos is ‘mentors for life,’ and we hope to be a support.” 

Timber Bay staff and volunteers focus on finding connections with youth through a variety of interests, whether cooking, kayaking, or disc golf—the possibilities are wide-ranging. “One of the greatest things is when the kids teach us something they know. It’s all about building that relationship. Kids are dealing with all sorts of stuff at any given time. We are adults who care and want to support them.” 

Some mentees go on to become mentors, building relationships by passing down life experiences and wisdom to younger generations. 

Timber Bay is fully funded through grants and donations, which come from numerous sources, including 100 Women Who Care, Wright-Hennepin Electric Co-Op, the Veit Automotive Foundation, to name a few. 

Buffalo Area Facility

Timber Bay is in the process of drafting a proposal for a Buffalo Area Facility and is actively seeking its own property in the area. 

With growth comes expansion. Timber Bay groups often meet at local churches or other area gathering places. Items are stored in trailers or in the homes of staff and volunteers. “We’re to the point where I’d like to find a permanent place,” said Harvey. “There’s so much more we could do to connect with kids if we had our own Timber Bay house versus doing it out of our own homes.” 

A Timber Bay location would provide opportunities for one-on-one connections that are cost effective and not limited by shared facility schedules. “We aren’t always able to go somewhere at 8:30 at night to cook food and do homework with the kids.” 

Harvey is currently working to find donors interested in supporting a Timber Bay facility. “We need to raise a lot of money, get the county’s approval for different things; there’s a lot of steps.”

The benefits of a Timber Bay facility are numerous, including providing kids with a space to call their own where they have a sense of pride and ownership. A central location would also help retain staff and volunteers. “Having a house and property would help volunteers and potential new staff to say, ‘Here’s our property to be able to use,’ and to encourage new people to come and be a part of it,” highlighted Harvey.

With equipment scattered in various storage facilities and at area churches, a centralized Timber Bay location would save time and energy, allowing volunteers and staff to focus on their mission of building relationships and creating connections. 

Support Timber Bay

All staff and programming at Timber Bay is 100% funded by donations. For donation details visit: www.timberbay.org/give/buffalo. 

Those interested in learning more about specific Buffalo Facility project details and donation opportunities can contact Ben Harvey at 952-242-6170 or by email at: benharvey@timberbay.org.