KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A volunteer program in Nebraska is working to help bring positive role models to elementary school children by matching them with older friends.

The Friends Program is a supervised program established in the mid-1970s that operates in Kearney, Ravenna and Elm Creek. Students are referred to the program by teachers and school counselors who think they could benefit from having an older role model.

The program is supported by the United Way of the Kearney Area and donations.

Program director April Roggasch said that it currently has 125 students, and there are 22 children in immediate need of a match. Roggasch says that there are 50 more children on a waiting list.

The program director said that male volunteers are always needed.