BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS SEEKS 60 BIGS IN 60 DAYS

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa (BBBSNEIA) has issued a call for 60 Bigs in 60 Days, urging men and women in the Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Waverly communities to volunteer their time and become a Big Brother or Big Sister to one of 60 children currently ready and waiting for a mentor to come into their life. Options to meet with the child at their school during the day or in the community, flexible to the mentor’s schedule, are both available.

BBBSNEIA is dedicated to enriching the lives of children, especially those in need of consistent role models, through one-on-one friendships between youth ages 6-18 and adult mentors, ages 18 to senior. The one-to-one “matches” meet a few hours each month and establish connections through simple activities and outings.

With over 250 youth currently being mentored throughout Black Hawk, Bremer and Butler counties there still remains a significant need. Adults often feel uncertain of their ability to mentor a youth, what to do during their time with a child, and how they could fit mentoring into their schedule. However, BBBSNEIA takes care of these concerns by making volunteering flexible and just a couple of hours a month and matches each mentor with just the right child for them and supports each pair every step of the way.

“Mentors tell us they get more out of the experience than they ever thought possible, and the impact of spending time with these kids who don’t have a consistent adult role model in their lives has proven to contribute to healthier families, better schools, stronger communities and brighter futures for all,” said Katie Orlando, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa. “Our goal is to surpass 60 new matches in Northeast Iowa by the beginning of November so youth are matched during the first months of a new year at school, a time when many youth can be vulnerable, and in time for the December holidays. I urge everyone to strongly consider this opportunity.”

Being a “Big” is as simple as spending a couple hours with your “Little” a few times a month, enjoying all different kinds of no-cost/low-cost activities, including:

A trip to a park for catch, riding bikes, a walk or shooting hoops
Meeting at the Littles’ school and reading together
Cooking, crafting or baking together
Learning something new like guitar, tennis, geocaching, knitting or skateboarding
Exploring new places like museums, restaurants, and new neighborhoods
Playing video games or sharing favorite movies together

Not only is being a mentor fun, but it is also an opportunity to help shape a child’s future for the better by empowering them to achieve success. In 2014-15, 100% of the youth enrolled in BBBSNEIA’s one-to-one mentoring program avoided the judicial system, 97% who did not believe they would finish high school now believe they can and will, 83% decreased the days they were absent from school, and 69% improved their grades.

With over 53 years of experience fostering professionally supported, one-on-one friendships between young people and adults, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa is helping to strengthen the communities in Iowa by providing youth with invested, caring adult mentors. For more information or to sign up to become a mentor, visit www.iowabigs.org or contact (319) 235.9397.