Last month, I took my “Little Sister” Aliatta to our second Fishing Day at Lake Lemon. Turning 14 next month, she was just 11 when we were first matched by our agency: Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana (BBBSSCI). Aliatta talked about Fishing Day for weeks leading up to the event. She had a blast our first time around in 2019, catching six fish in total and kissing each of them on their scaly cheeks to rack up bonus points before staff released them back into the lake.
Having lived some of my teenage years in western Colorado, teaching Aliatta to fish was a dream. She managed to keep her skills fresh until this year, matching her feat of six catches (although just like in 2019, she made me handle all the bait!).
Like so many other things we collectively looked forward to last year, the 2020 Fishing Day was canceled. Fun community events are one drop in the bucket of all that was lost to COVID-19, but the pandemic’s deeper impact on some of Bloomington’s already-vulnerable youth has left the agency with huge demand and a near-halt of volunteer interest.
As of this month, BBBSSCI has about 130 children waiting to be matched with a stable adult mentor. Seventy percent of them are boys, leaving the need for men to volunteer especially urgent.
Here is some data about the youth BBBSSCI serves:
- Littles are typically between the ages of 6 and 14 when matched
- 80% qualify for free or reduced lunch
- 79% live with a single parent, foster parent, grandparent, or other relative
- 13% have an incarcerated parent
Now for the good news. Data for successfully-matched Littles:
- 99% showed reduced risky behaviors and refrain from criminal activity
- 90% feel more confident in themselves
- 100% graduate high school or attain their GED
Who can be a Big and what does it entail?
There are two main mentoring programs at BBBSSCI: Community-Based and Site-Based.
Community-Based Mentors pick their Little up from their home to do activities around town 2-4 times per month. This is the program Aliatta and I take part in. Some of our favorite activities include:
- Attending shows at the Buskirk-Chumley or IU Auditorium (BBBS often has an allotment of tickets for matches)
- Picnics in the park
- Sharing wings and pizza at Mother Bear’s
- Book hauls at Monroe County Public Library and Half-Price Books
- Grabbing hot chocolate at Soma
- Touring campus to show Aliatta where I work and go to school
Site-Based Mentors meet their Little at school or the Boys and Girls Club for a designated time each week.
Bigs must be least 18 years old and must be able to commit to 12 months of reliable, consistent presence (every week to every other week).
Interested volunteers will first attend Orientation and Training (2 hours), apply and interview (1 hour), and then wait for background checks and personal referrals to clear.
My experience as a Big
Aliatta and I are nearing 3 years matched this Fall. Volunteering in this way has been deeply meaningful and rewarding for me. I chose to become a Big when I knew I didn’t have a lot of funds to give but still believed I could make a difference in the community. Watching her confidence grow as she navigates adolescence has been well worth the time commitment and the small budget for activities.
Learn more or jump right in
If making a difference as a Big sounds like something you’d like to explore, you can reach out to the agency anytime at bbbs@bigsindiana.org to let them know who you are and inquire about the next Orientation and Training opportunity. Their volunteer website has some Frequently Asked Questions. I’m also happy to share more about my experience with you directly at krjose@iu.edu, and I can make a personal referral to connect you with the agency if you are interested in moving forward.
There’s also a special event THIS WEEK where you can swing by to meet some BBBS representatives and learn more in person:
WHEN: Thursday, July 29th at 5:30pm
WHERE: Switchyard Brewery (419 N Walnut)
WHAT: A laid-back atmosphere with pizza provided
An RSVP would be appreciated for pizza counts at rhawkins@bigsindiana.org
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