Embrace, a nonprofit mentoring program for youths in Oxford and Lake Orion, will be holding a no-obligation informational meeting for prospective volunteers on Monday, Oct. 3 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The meeting will be held at the Indianwood Real Estate office in Oxford (51 S. Washington St., suite F).

The program is seeking adults who are looking to make a difference by meeting weekly, one-on-one with a youth to assist with suicide prevention through building a caring mentor relationship.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among persons aged 10-14 in the U.S. and the second cause of death among persons aged 15-34 years, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

After several years in the making, Embrace was launched May 2016 to offer support to local students who are struggling.

“Embrace was started by a lot of different people from different churches that have come together (to launch) this program,” said Embrace CEO Kim Gibson. “We started gathering students and when they started talking, they said the number one thing that they felt they needed was mentorship.”

While developing the program, Embrace founders worked alongside a group of six youths to ensure mentors will provide students with everything they need to stay emotionally healthy.

Through the recommendation of the young consultants, the Embrace staff is developing an app to provide daily inspiration and devotions to students and as a quick means to contact Embrace staff members for support.

The team has also partnered with the North Oakland Community Coalition in Lake Orion, and other organizations, to connect students to prevention, support and recovery resources that go beyond what Embrace offers.

Up to four free sessions of counseling will also be provided through the program for students in need, according to Gibson.

The organization is looking to find eight to 12 long-term mentors to aid them in their mission.

“Embrace is a Christian organization, so somebody that is faith-based (would be ideal) because we don’t want somebody coming in that would be offended by that,” Gibson said.

“Not that the students have to be Christian, by any means at all. There’s no requirement like that and we are not about shoving that in anybody’s face at all . . . but somebody for the mentorship would be somebody that is more faith-based and somebody who really enjoys young people.”

Mentors will be asked to meet with their students at least once a week for activities, to provide support and allow them to have an ongoing dialogue about their needs.

Free three-month training will be provided to mentors.

“The informational meeting will help potential mentors make the right decision (and see) if it’s the right fit for them. And then they can actually understand what the commitment entails and what mentoring with Embrace actually looks like,” said Gibson.

The embrace program also offers weekly in-house workshops to students to develop various talents and improve self-esteem.

As part of the Embrace program, Gibson will host pampering workshops to girls, ages 12-20 years old, at Charm & Company Salons (51 S. Washington St., Suite C) every Wednesday throughout October, starting Oct. 5. Girls will be offered one mini service ranging from a manicure/pedicure, skin care treatment, or blow out.

The workshop is limited to the first ten girls registered. The cost is $5 per event. A snack and transportation will be provided with parent approval.

To sign up for the mentor informational meeting or for the pampering workshop, visit embraceone.net, send an email to embrace815@gmail.com or call (248) 321-8716.