Community Spotlight: Karen Kitchel Reflects on Eight Years of Mentoring

Eagan resident Karen Kitchel is known across the state for her work founding and directing the nonprofit Cheerful Givers—which provides disadvantaged children with birthday gifts.

But Kitchel also gives back to the community in other ways—and it's one of those less visible contributions that earned her a Community Spotlight nomination from Kids 'n Kinship Program Coordinator Rita Younger.

For eight years, Kitchel has been a mentor for twin sisters and local students Nyamal and Nyamuoch.

"Karen has helped the girls in so many ways: Discovering their interests, developing their personalities, being a resource of support and information and loving and supporting them through many family challenges," Younger wrote in her recommendation.

Learn how you can nominate an Eagan resident for Patch's Community Spotlight series.

Kids 'n Kinship is a Dakota County program that connects adult mentors with local youth in need of some extra support—or another adult role model.

Kitchel, who knows Kids 'n Kinship Executive Director Jan Belmore, decided to get involved after her own children had moved out of the house. She was matched with Nyamal and Nyamuoch, who come from a single-parent home with a family of five children.

The twins, who were 5-years-old when Kitchel began mentoring them, now attend middle school classes. Over the years, Kitchel has played tennis with them, taken the twins to a Gopher basketball game and the Minnesota State Fair.

Along the way, Kitchel has introduced the girls to a number of new experiences—and vice versa.

"Mentoring creates opportunities for both the mentees and the mentors," Kitchel said. "For the mentees, it’s a chance to be exposed to different lifestyles, and for the mentors, it’s a chance to also be exposed to the different lifestyles within your own community."

Kitchel has also taken the two students on college visits to expose them to the possibilities of post-secondary education.

Kitchel hopes the relationship they've built will continue to grow, even as Nyamal and Nyamuoch hit adulthood.

"To me, it’s been very gratifying to see the girls grow and to see their interests grow," Kitchel said. "I think they know that I’m really interested in all of the things that they’re doing."

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