This article is part of an ongoing #UnitedForGood series highlighting people, agencies, and programs the United Way of Bay County supports.
Adults who volunteer to spend a few hours a week with kids make a big difference.
For 70 years,
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region has been connecting at-risk kids (littles) with adult mentors (bigs).
While Scot Litle, Executive Director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Area, and Gina Huynh, Match Coordinator for the regional organization, say they don’t know how many kids the organization has reached since its beginnings, they do know the impact has been significant.
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Graphic courtesy of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay RegionRecent surveys show that 91% of the littles show higher scholastic competency and commitment to learning after being paired with a big. Surveys also show at 86% of littles exhibit fewer risk-taking behaviors and 85% report higher self-esteem, social acceptance, and a better connection to family.
If that sounds like something you’d like to do, you’re in luck.
There are openings for big brothers and big sisters right now.
“Our biggest need is more bigs,” Huynh says. “It you look across the Great Lakes Bay Region, we’re at 60 kids plus on our waiting list.”
In Bay County, 18 kids are on the waiting list. It’s 23 in Midland County; eight in Isabella County; and 17 in Saginaw County.
The other bit of luck is mentoring a kid may be easier than you think.
Huynh and Litle say Big Brothers/Big Sisters offers training before matching kids and adults. During the partnership, the organization checks in monthly to make sure the match is going well and to ask if there are any questions or concerns.
When mentors have questions, Big Brothers/Big Sisters has resources to help. When appropriate, the agency can suggest other resources that may help the child or family.
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Graphic courtesy of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay RegionThe time commitment varies. Some bigs and littles meet two to three times a month for an hour or two at a time. Others plan weekly, day-long outings to community events. Litle says most of the meet-ups are in person, but there’s nothing wrong with catching up now and then over the phone.
Both Huynh and Litle say the organization is looking for role models. Being a role model might be less intimidating than it sounds.
“There’s a saying in Big Brothers/Big Sisters: It takes little to be big,” Litle says. “The idea is that, yes, everyday people,” can serve as mentors. “It doesn’t take anything special – although these people are special. It takes consistency, a willingness to listen, willingness to guide, just being there.”
Huynh adds the kids learn to rely on adults to show up when they say they will and provide a listening ear. That happens while bigs and littles work on projects together, learn new skills, or enjoy community events.
“It’s just being there, saying ‘Hey, have you thought about this?’ or ‘That’s a normal feeling,’ “ Litle says.
“It’s introducing them to new ideas. That’s another big thing we like to say: You can’t be what you can’t see. So many of these kids have sheltered backgrounds. Getting them out and seeing more, introducing them to more, opens up their views of where they can go, what’s possible.”
Another big benefit to the relationship between bigs and littles is the kids learn and practice social emotional skills. Social emotional skills are how we experience, express, and manage our emotions, according to
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America.
Many kids fell behind on those skills during the COVID-19 closures a few years ago.
“I think the need for more mentors is so high because of (COVID-19),” Litle says. “It’s not just the school and school learning that got affected. It’s all the social emotional stuff. And that’s where we find we can help. That’s when the big really steps in and is that extra caring person to listen and to guide.”
Big Brothers/Big Sisters in this area is divided into two programs.
Community-Based Mentoring – what most people think of when they hear about Big Brothers/Big Sisters – is open to kids between 6 and 12 years old. Littles can stay matched until they are 18 or graduate from high school. Bigs and littles set up routine meetings to do everything from bake a cake to attend a local festival.
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Graphic courtesy of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay RegionLunchbox Learners focuses on elementary school students and increasing their reading abilities. Bigs and littles meet at a school for about 45 minutes once a week during lunch.
They eat, read to each other, complete literacy activities, and then enjoy a short game time. Litle stresses that while Lunchbox Learners focuses on literacy skills, the adults also provide mentoring and promote social emotional skills.
In each program, the mentors receive individualized training. Everyone gets an orientation to the program, how it works, and what’s involved. After that, though, the training is specific to the match. For example, if the little comes to the program after facing trauma, the big gets training in supporting someone after trauma.
“It’s personalized based on the individual, the little, what they may be facing, or the challenges,” Litle says.
The support doesn’t end with the initial training.
“Once they’re matched, they’re not just on their own,” Huynh says. “We do check-ins with them every month and make sure everything’s going smoothly, ask if they need any additional support or guidance … we make sure they’re comfortable.”
Stories on the website illustrate the difference the mentors make.
One story is about Alejandro and Matthew. Matthew’s dad died at age 4. He had no siblings. He struggled with social skills. As he got older, he had more and more trouble with anger. In the seventh grade, he was matched with Alejandro, a teacher and coach who was about to retire.
Together, the two talked about what was bothering Matthew and sparking his anger. Matthew learned to express his emotions and open up more. Today, Matthew says he has more friends at school and feels more self-confident.
Another story is about Eric and Lyle. Lyle had few male role models in his life. His dad was rarely around. His oldest brother moved out. He lived with his mom and a sister. At school and church, most of the adults are women.
Lyle’s mom wanted him to have a mentor who could share his passion for aircraft, spacecraft, ships, cars, and World War II history.
In walks Eric, a US Navy veteran and welder. Eric encouraged Lyle to enroll in welding classes. He took Lyle to the USS Edson, Greenfield Village, the Ford Rouge factory, and the Soo Locks.
His mom says Lyle is changed. He found his first job, he’s enrolled in welding classes, and is considering college.
Litle encourages people to visit the
website to learn more about volunteering like Alejandro and Eric.
“The real thing for us is just that need for more mentors,” Litle says. “It’s about being that extra support system, and how important one extra person is that's on their side in their life.”