WHO ARE BIG BROTHERS OR SISTERS?

They are responsible, caring adults who:

• Are over 18 years of age
• Are willing to volunteer 3 hours of their time each week for at least a year
• Have a genuine interest in establishing a meaningful relationship with a Little Brother or Sister
• Want to help a child to build on their strengths and enhance their self-esteem

DO YOU :

• Want to make a difference?
• Want to have fun?
• Want to share your time?

Big Brothers and Sisters may be from any walk of life, either married or single, and have children of their own or not. The things that lead to success as a Big Brother or Sister are caring, commitment, and the ability to provide positive support in a non-judgmental manner.

WHO ARE LITTLE BROTHERS & SISTERS?

• Children 6-16 years
• May live with one parent, or both, or with a guardian
• Needs encouragement to meet their challenges
• Wants a special friend to talk to, learn from, and share life’s experiences with

THE FRIENDSHIP PROCESS

Each child is interviewed and matched according to their unique needs. Each Big Brother or Sister is screened, interviewed, trained, and then matched according to their preferences and abilities. Each friendship receives ongoing professional support and supervision.

FINANCIAL COST?

Some incidental costs may be incurred while on outings with your Little Brother or Sister; however, our organization believes that friendship doesn’t have to cost money. We encourage all participants to be creative about finding low or no-cost activities to do together. The agency plans regular FREE group activities including holiday parties, horseback riding, and the like. In addition, many businesses give discounts to our Big and Little matches.

THE PROCESS

The process for each Big Brother or Big Sister includes:

• A completed application form
• At least 3 personal references
• A police clearance
• An in-home interview
• Training

HOW TO START

To become a Big Brother or Big Sister:

• Call us at 519-351-1582 to request an application package
• Drop by our office and pick up an application package