Big Brothers Big Sisters Launch a Summer Buddies Program

The group of little buddies during a recent outing to Bel-Mar Bowling facility in Sidney.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby and Darke County launched a Summer Mentoring Program for summer 2012 to serve some of the children currently waiting for a volunteer mentor. Funding for this program was secured through the Community Foundation of Shelby County on behalf of the Roscoe Beanblossom Fund and the Founders Fund.

Executive Director stated, “We were so pleased to have this opportunity to launch this program. The children involved in the Summer Buddies are having a great time and it is enabling the staff the opportunity to get to know these children better and hopefully help match them in our core program with an appropriate volunteer.”

The group which is comprised of 12 littles currently waiting for a volunteer mentor will meet for six two hour sessions. Outings take place at various locations throughout Shelby County, such as Tawawa Park, the Fair, and Van De Mark Farms. Program Coordinator stated, “We wanted to give these kids the opportunity to do some things this summer that they might not otherwise have the chance to do.” The programming focuses on educational and social enhancing activates under the supervision of Big Brother Big Sisters staff. The program focuses on summer fun with the emphasis on positive life choices, including physical fitness and positive peer relations.

In addition to our summer mentoring program, the agency has 103 community-based matches throughout Shelby and Darke County. These matches meet with each other twice a month for outings which are planned around the volunteer’s schedule. The goal of the community-based program is to match a local child with an adult mentor, who can serve as a positive role model, and expose the child to enhancing and uplifting activities. There are still over 25 children waiting for a Big Brother or Sister in the program, so now is the time to think about how you could put a little sparkle into the life of a child! If you are interested in becoming a mentor in our community-based program, please call 547-9622 or 492-7611 for more information.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County is a United Way member agency and an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. If you would like more information about how to become a volunteer, you may visit the agency web site at www.bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org or call the Sidney office at (937)492-7611 or the Greenville office at (937)547-9622