A new Austin mentorship group plans to open an office in January as a place for anyone in the community to come for assistance and fellowship.

“It’s a safe place where you can come as you are if you just need to talk, or need some direction to go in a certain circumstance,” said Jon Boyer, treasurer of the Atlas board. “We’re going to be plugged into the community where we can kind of help them get connected.”

Atlas is based on Christian values, but is nondenominational. The group aims to provide the tools for people to work past any issue they may have.

“It’s not a handout; it’s a handup,” Boyer said.

Atlas, which stands for attaining truth, love and self-control, started in Sioux Center, Iowa, and has about locations around the county with most in the Midwest.

Volunteers are remodeling the new Atlas office at 300 Second Ave. NW in Austin. The goal is for the Atlas building to be open every weekday, but Boer said that will depend on the number of volunteers.

If someone comes into the office for help, he or she would likely be paired with someone who would likely be a good match — maybe even someone who’s gone through the same thing, Boyer said. In most cases, men will be paired with men and women will be paired with women.

Boyer said the group will also connect people with other organizations in the community where they can get help.

Volunteers will be able to help people on a variety of things from general talking to problems that arise in life. For example, one volunteer plans to give people some financial coaching, Boyer said.

Right now, the non-profit group has about 12 volunteers in Austin. Boyer said all the mentors will go to Sioux Center for training.

While Atlas formed in Austin in June, this is not an entirely new venture in Austin. Some of the volunteers started working with children and teens around town. The group recently sent about 10 children to a camp.

Children will still be an integral part of Atlas; however, Boyer said Atlas is open to helping people of all ages from all walks of life.

Gordy Harder is part of Cast, which stands for Compassion and Service Team, out the Faith Evangelical Free Church. The group provides services for people who have “too much month at the end of their money,” Harder said.

Harder said many of the people Cast helps often face the same financial trouble each month. Cast and Atlas can work together to equip people to work past such problems.

Atlas, he said, will be able to show such people how to save and better manage their money.

While the group has religious roots, Boyer said the group is open to everyone, and people can be open about whatever is going in their lives without judgment.

“Somebody who wouldn’t darken the door of the church — they can feel comfortable coming here,” Boyer said.

“It is a Christ-centered organization, but nobody’s going to walk in the door and have a Bible shoved down their throat,” he added. “That’s not what this is about.”

Atlas is holding a meeting for anyone interested in the program at the Austin Public Library on Dec. 14 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Atlas founder will speak at the meeting.