Daniel Hunter considers himself lucky to have Raymond, a 2-year Trent Hill Center resident, as a mentee.

The pair’s paths crossed when Raymond’s initial mentor, a friend of Daniel’s, learned he would be out of town for work for a period of several months. Because mentors are typically expected to meet with their mentees once a week, the initial mentor knew he wouldn’t be able to keep up with his duties as much as he’d like. So, he tapped Daniel.

Daniel and Raymond quickly learned that they share a love of the outdoors, which takes them on many adventures: fishing in a creek, awaiting doves in a field, and scouting for the upcoming hunting season, to name a few. A day in the life of Raymond and Daniel often ends with a home-cooked meal, made by Raymond–who has become quite the chef. The main course of their meals? Wild game, of course.

Over the course of nearly a year, the two have spent well beyond the minimum 1 hour per week together. Last summer, Daniel connected Raymond with a local farmer, who employed Raymond through his irrigation business. He spent the summer building and installing pivots on various tracts of land across the state. Later in2021, Raymond was connected to yet another community member, Mike, who coaches Raymond in a local shooting team. All in all, Raymond has acquired quite the cohort of mentors. Oftentimes when THC personnel are out in the community, folks will tell us they’ve met him in one capacity or another! Daniel jokingly refers to the ever-growing group of male mentors as Raymond’s “uncles.”

Raymond says he enjoys being out with his mentors because “it gets me out of the house and introduces me to stuff I like to do.”

Daniel says of his relationship with the infamous Raymond: “It's been great watching Raymond grow as a person, and expand his reach to new friends. My family and friends enjoy Raymond and his sense of humor as much as I do, and have embraced him as family.”  

To those considering becoming a mentor, Daniel offers the following advice: “If anything, I think it helps that I am there to listen. Anybody can listen, and sometimes that is all that is needed.”