Leadership skills are needed throughout the lifespan in varied situations and dynamics. Even youth are called upon to perform and demonstrate leadership in different settings as they grow and develop. The Cumberland County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences partnered with the Cumberland County Middle School to recruit and establish a youth leadership team. Teachers and staff nominated students from sixth and seventh grades and twelve students were chosen to serve. 

The group began meeting and setting goals both for their school and their local community. Some of the issues they identified as concerns were: bullying, vaping, food insecurity and mental health. The name "Mentoring the Middle" was chosen by the group members. They set fundraising goals in order to complete projects in the community and began by recognizing Red Ribbon Week and selling ribbons to community businesses. 

They identified the need for an outside heater for the local food pantry as clients were seen lining up outside the pantry hours before it opened in order to wait for commodities. With cold weather approaching, the students made contact with food pantry volunteers to determine if this was something that would be useful and utilized. Volunteers readily accepted the idea and an outdoor heater was purchased and delivered. 

The Cumberland County Judge Executive met with these students as they delivered the heater to the food pantry and he issued a press release thanking the group for the generosity  of their donation and recognizing them as leaders among their peers. WBKO, the local news station out of Bowling Green, did a spotlight on the Mentoring the Middle group which was aired on television and shared on their Facebook page. One of the food pantry volunteers reached out to the County Judge King and shared that the heater was being used by clientele and was much appreciated in the below freezing temperatures. The food pantry serves between eighty and one hundred people per week through the work of local volunteers.