Traditional Community-based Program
Most of the youth in our community-based program are being raised in single-parent households or by a non-parent caregiver or guardian; many live in low income families; and many are doing poorly in school and lack positive adult role models. Adult mentors are interviewed, screened and trained by Big Brothers Big Sisters staff. Mentors are matched with children who have been referred by their parents/guardians for services.
The interests and preferences of both the adult mentor and the child are taken into consideration before making a match. Matches meet after school or on weekends and engage in a variety of fun activities. What is universal to being a Big Brother or Big Sister is that most Bigs start out thinking they’ll give something back, yet most end up saying “I get so much more than I give.” As a big, you are simply a friend.
Over 1800 children have been matched in our community with a
Community-based Big Brother or Big Sister.
Lunch Buddy Program
Our Lunch Buddy Program began in Feb. of 2005 and utilizes adult community volunteer mentors who are interested in having lunch with a young child at school. Lunch Buddies meet once a week with their “little” to have lunch and spend the remainder of the lunch hour engaged in a variety of activities. Most importantly, Bigs are there to be a friend – to listen, give advice if asked, and to have fun. Here are just a few activities that our “matches” do together:
- Do homework in the library
- Read a book together
- Talk about themselves and their families
- Enjoy a hobby or play board games
- Draw pictures or create crafts
- Talk about the dangers of drugs and alcohol
- Talk about saying “no” in difficult situations
Several of our Lunch Buddy mentors follow their assigned child to the next grade. We have many matches who started in the elementary grades and continue on to the intermediate school. Since starting school-based mentoring in the 2000/2001 school year, BBBS has matched 1476 school children with mentors through Lunch Buddy and Bigs-In-Schools.
Bigs-In-School
High school students have a lot to offer as volunteers: energy, enthusiasm, caring, creativity, and something more – younger students look up to admire high school students, and relate easily to Bigs who are still in school. Especially important: their self-esteem is boosted by having a friend amongst “the big kids.” The high school student becomes that child’s special friend and role model, offering attention, support, and encouragement.
Grayling and Gaylord High School students have the opportunity to become “Bigs” in their sophomore, junior and/or senior years. The high school student must submit an application, get parental/guardian permission, participate in a brief interview, and attend 2 training sessions. The administration, with the help of the guidance counselors, work with the staff of Big Brothers Big Sisters to ensure that the high school students selected to be mentors are of good character and are in good standing with their grades before being matched with an elementary student.
Once matched, the Big/Little pairs meet once a week at the "littles" school for the duration of the school year. The Big may spend time in the child's classroom if the teacher desires, or take the child out of the classroom. Staff from BBBS are present with the matches. Bigs and Littles work on homework, read together, play educational games, and spend time in relationship building activities.
Otsego and Crawford County high school students have earned more than
36,000 volunteer service hours by serving as mentors.
