Big Brothers Big Sisters celebrates National Mentoring Month
NORWICH – January is National Mentoring Month, and as the only mentoring agency in Chenango County, the Big Brothers Big Sisters program is taking the opportunity to celebrate its mentors and to hopefully recruit some more.
“We have a waiting list of children right now who are ready to be matched with a volunteer as soon as possible,” said program director Kobie Decker.
BBBS is the oldest youth mentoring organization in the United States. The purpose of the program is to match kids with adult mentors who can help them reach their full potential.
According to Decker, their are currently over 100 children combined in all of Chenango County’s BBBS programs, which include the school-based program, the community-based program and the New York State Mentoring Children of Promise program, a program for kids who have a loved one in incarceration. “We’re looking for retired individuals, college students or anyone else who might have a little spare time to make a difference,” Decker said.
Volunteering for the program does not represent a large time commitment. Decker said BBBS recommends spending a minimum of six to eight hours a week with your “little.”
“You don’t have to be an straight A student or a corporate executive to make a difference in the life of a child,” Decker said. “It’s about providing good role models.”
Children ages 6 to 15 are eligible to be part of the BBBS program, and children ages 4 to 21 can take part in Children of Promise. Mentors must be over 18 and have to go through a background check before they can be approved. “There is a screening process,” Decker said. “We do a home assessment to make sure the child is safe at all times. But we’re just looking for caring, committed individuals who have six to eight extra hours a month.”
“The Big Brothers Big Sisters program is all about relationships. It’s not about how old we are, what we look like or where we live. It’s about who we are. I’m a person who likes to laugh and likes to listen. I believe we can all learn a lot from one another, so I created space in my life for a new relationship – a space just the size of my little, as it turns out,” said Big Sister Paula Lesso in a testimonial for the program.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Big Brothers Big Sisters program can call Decker at The Place 334-3878 or e-mail BBBS@theplace-cncn.org.
Even if you are not able to donate your time, Decker said, you can still contribute to the program by participating in the Annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser on March 14 at Plaza Lanes. Pledge forms for the event are available at The Place, NBT Bank, the YMCA and other local participating agencies.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters is a good fit for a lot of different people, because we have a lot of different types of littles,” Decker said. “A little bit of time can make a big difference.”
“We have a waiting list of children right now who are ready to be matched with a volunteer as soon as possible,” said program director Kobie Decker.
BBBS is the oldest youth mentoring organization in the United States. The purpose of the program is to match kids with adult mentors who can help them reach their full potential.
According to Decker, their are currently over 100 children combined in all of Chenango County’s BBBS programs, which include the school-based program, the community-based program and the New York State Mentoring Children of Promise program, a program for kids who have a loved one in incarceration. “We’re looking for retired individuals, college students or anyone else who might have a little spare time to make a difference,” Decker said.
Volunteering for the program does not represent a large time commitment. Decker said BBBS recommends spending a minimum of six to eight hours a week with your “little.”
“You don’t have to be an straight A student or a corporate executive to make a difference in the life of a child,” Decker said. “It’s about providing good role models.”
Children ages 6 to 15 are eligible to be part of the BBBS program, and children ages 4 to 21 can take part in Children of Promise. Mentors must be over 18 and have to go through a background check before they can be approved. “There is a screening process,” Decker said. “We do a home assessment to make sure the child is safe at all times. But we’re just looking for caring, committed individuals who have six to eight extra hours a month.”
“The Big Brothers Big Sisters program is all about relationships. It’s not about how old we are, what we look like or where we live. It’s about who we are. I’m a person who likes to laugh and likes to listen. I believe we can all learn a lot from one another, so I created space in my life for a new relationship – a space just the size of my little, as it turns out,” said Big Sister Paula Lesso in a testimonial for the program.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Big Brothers Big Sisters program can call Decker at The Place 334-3878 or e-mail BBBS@theplace-cncn.org.
Even if you are not able to donate your time, Decker said, you can still contribute to the program by participating in the Annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser on March 14 at Plaza Lanes. Pledge forms for the event are available at The Place, NBT Bank, the YMCA and other local participating agencies.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters is a good fit for a lot of different people, because we have a lot of different types of littles,” Decker said. “A little bit of time can make a big difference.”
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