Mentors and mentees in the SMILES (Southcoast Mentoring Initiative for Learning, Education and Service) mentoring program (a program of People, Incorporated) at the B.M.C. Durfee High School got together for the first time during the start of the 2012-13 school year on October 9, 2012 in the Keeley Library. Nearly all of the mentor-mentee matches began in earlier grades and continued into the high school years. "We have a terrific group of mentors and students who have developed lasting relationships over the years," commented Fall River SMILES director Heidi Bedard. "And our numbers of mentors is continuing to grow, both here and in New Bedford," she added. Weekly SMILES mentoring sessions take place throughout the year to offer mentors and mentees the chance to get to form strong bonds designed to keep mentees invested in their schools. For more information about the program or to volunteer to serve as a mentor in other programs, e-mail Heidi Bedard. (Most photos by Heidi Bedard and Katje Fuson)

(Top row) Fall River SMILES director Heidi Bedard, an employee of People, Incorporated, welcomes mentors back after the summer and goes over the schedules and rules for the coming year. (Row two, left and center) Carole Fiola talks with her husband, Ken's, mentee as well as her own. (SMILES administrator Katje Fuson goes over a form with mentor Judith Armstrong. (Row three) Mentors Kristine Rodrigues, Carole Fiola and Lee Snitzer talk with their mentees. (Bottom row, left and right) Mentors Judith Armstrong and Jeannette Lambert meet with their mentees. (Bottom row, center) School guidance director Aimee Bronhard talks with two of the mentees.