Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County Board of Trustees and staff recently kicked off Volunteer Recruitment Challenge 2014 on Tuesday, January 21st at the monthly board meeting. During the next seven weeks, teams consisting of local board members and agency staff will be competing against each other to earn points by reaching out to the community actively seeking new volunteers and Bowl For Kids Sake teams and sponsors. The challenge is the result of the ever growing number of children in the area requiring the local agencies services. When the waiting list reached a high of 22 children, the agency decided that a community outreach effort was needed. Additionally, the agency will be offering incentives to our existing volunteers to assist in recruiting volunteers.
Big Brothers Big Sisters anticipates being able to introduce some of our waiting list children along with their newly assigned volunteers at the agency’ Bowl For Kids Sake event to be held on March 7th & 8th. Having a Big Brother or Big Sister will give so many kids a wonderful gift, a chance to grow, learn and perceive the possibilities of the world around them through a positive relationship with a volunteer mentor. Being a mentor to a young child is a worthwhile and precious gift, one that will be keep on giving, year after year.
One Big Sister, 67 year old, Peggy, states that her Little Sis Kayla has given more to her than she has to Kayla. “She has given me a purpose! Everything I enjoy doing in life I have shared with Kayla and she now loves the same things. We enjoy baking together, going through the car wash and just talking.”
National studies have determined that providing positive mentoring relationships for children from single parent homes does work. Children involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters programs tend to relate better with peers, are less likely to get involved with drugs and often function better in school.
Big Brothers Big Sisters asks that a volunteer or “Big” spend time with their child or “Little” a minimum of two times per month offering guidance, support, and positive role modeling through match activities. These activities are determined by the Big and Little and are set around the volunteer’s schedule. Volunteers are also assigned a staff member during the course of their match to offer support and suggestions.
For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters, or you are interested in becoming a volunteer, visit our website at bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org or call 492-7611 or 547-9622. Big Brothers Big Sisters is a non-profit United Way agency.
