Courtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fairfield County
A Big and his two Littles attend Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Bowl for Kids Sake fundraising event.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fairfield County is looking to expand its reach in the Pickerington community as more and more parents, guardians and teachers refer children to the mentoring program.
The Fairfield County branch of Big Brothers Big Sisters has been in operation since the mid-1980s, but it entered Pickerington Local Schools about five years ago.
“It was really born out of corporate and local volunteers, and we worked with the schools to help facilitate how the matches could meet during the school days,” says Kim Clark, executive director of the Fairfield County branch.
In 2014, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fairfield County served about 220 children. About 25 of those children were from Pickerington Local Schools.
“It’s certainly a growing program,” says Clark.
Though the program’s size did not increase much the first few years, a growing number of referrals in the community has jump-started a search for Bigs to pair with Littles and a look into what the school district’s needs are.
Courtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fairfield County
Through community-based mentoring, a Big and his or her Little can participate in a variety of activities together, such as going to the movies or playing sports.
Reliable volunteers, Clark says, can be found just about anywhere.
“My goal, as I’m coming into the end of my first year (with the organization), is to put some focus and some energy into the program,” Clark says. “If anything, our goal is to grow our Pickerington program because we know that the need is tremendous. … Now is the time to reach out to the community and make sure that everyone in Pickerington knows we are here and available.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters offers two types of programming:
-Community-Based Mentoring: A Big and his or her Little spend unstructured time together, usually two to four times a month for two or three hours. They can participate in a variety of activities together, from going to the fair or the movie theater to playing sports at a local park. The goal is to help Littles learn new skills and explore new interests.
-School-Based Mentoring: Bigs meet with Littles regularly during the school year. In
Courtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fairfield County
Pickerington, Bigs meet with their Littles about once a week during lunch time.
“We have a lot of kids who, through mentoring, get scholastic help,” Clark says. “A teacher might (ask a Little) to read (with his or her Big), or do some of those basic things kids might not have someone at home to help with.”
While any child will be considered for the program, Clark says some come from nontraditional or troubled homes. Sometimes, a child has merely moved away for the first time, there’s been a death in the family or his or her parents are going through a divorce.
“What we try to do is infuse an adult in the situation so that child can turn to them and talk to them,” Clark says. “It’s not a replacement for a parent, but it’s a third party who can stand back and offer extra support to the child.”
Ashley Aellig, a counselor at Harmon Middle School, says she’s witnessed the benefits of children having that mentor figure.
“What’s great about Big Brothers Big Sisters is that it’s a program that connects kids to the
Courtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fairfield County
Kim Clark, right, receives a donation for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fairfield County.
community and the school,” Aellig says. “The students look forward to that consistency. Their parents might have to work second shift, or maybe they have a babysitter. But with their Big, they know they have a personal connection.”
Aellig says that many of the children have participated in the program since elementary school.
“The students I talk to, especially the fifth-graders, were so excited to have their Bigs come in every Wednesday,” she says. “They had established a consistent relationship with their Bigs. … At Harmon, we talk a lot about how important it is for students to establish three adults they can count on.”
Clark says the program works hard to make sure the matches stay together.
“That’s always the dream – that you get those matches started when they’re in kindergarten or first grade, and that match will stay together for an extended period of time,” she says.
Aellig recalls one story from the past school year that stood out to her. A girl’s Big could not attend their session one day. When another student heard, that student’s Big invited the Little to spend time with them.
“What a powerful thing that that Big taught those boys that day,” Aellig says. “To me, a Big exemplifies patience. … That’s what we’re all about at school, doing whatever we can to help whatever student is in front of us. That student is so lucky that their Big would do that.”
For more information of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fairfield County, visit www.bbbs-fairfieldoh.org.
Hannah Bealer is an assistant editor. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscememediagroup.com.
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