Dear Bloomingfoods,
On behalf of the whole staff at Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana (BBBSSCI), I want to express our highest gratitude! Being a Positive Change recipient for the month of June this year was an honor, and we were all so excited to receive over $12,000! A few of us went in to grab lunch throughout the month and were amazed at the community’s generosity as we watched this number grow. The Positive Change program is a tremendous way to involve individuals in small ways to make huge impacts in the community. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!!
I want to continue expressing our gratefulness by explaining BBBSSCI’s current needs, and why this donation is so timely and needed for the youth in our community. BBBSSCI facilitates one-to-one mentoring relationships between kids (ages 6-17) and adult volunteers. Between serving Monroe and Owen counties, we work with over 200 kids every year. Matches between Bigs and Littles meet together every week to do fun activities, and through these activities, they grow a deep relationship over time that enables the Big to be a positive and constant friend and advocate in the Little’s life. The truly special relationships we get to see growing between Bigs and Littles, and the potential that gets ignited in kids’ lives every day, is what continues to fuel us with passion for the work we do. BBBSSCI prides itself on the quality program we have worked hard to develop and grow, and we use careful planning and expertise to enroll, train, match, and then support every single child, volunteer, and family in our program. Mentoring may sound simple, but it’s a very complex relationship dynamic that we skillfully navigate our Bigs and Littles through so their bonds can remain strong and enduring, which results in greater impact for the youth over their lifetime. Mentoring improves kids’ lives academically, socially, mentally, and emotionally. Youth who have a mentor in their corner are more likely to excel in school, avoid risky behaviors, have higher aspirations for their futures, and learn how to develop positive relationships in their lives.
Just like so many businesses and nonprofits in the area, COVID-19 took a toll on our operations. We were able to sustain our program and keep our matches going strong (safely) throughout the pandemic, and our staff remained working toward our mission without having to close. However, we continue to see the impacts that COVID-19 has had on volunteer interest. Our new volunteer intake requests have dropped, which results in serving fewer kids. Without the volunteers, we cannot make the powerful impacts described above for the youth in our community who need a mentor now more than ever. BBBSSCI staff has been working hard on volunteer recruitment this summer, so we can hopefully start to match more of the 130 kids on our waiting list. So many kids are just waiting to be paired with the person that will be a positive, stable presence in their life that could make all the difference for their future. This is currently our biggest need, and we would appreciate any help with engaging more volunteers to start their “Big” journey, which so many of our past and current Bigs declare as one of the most rewarding things they’ve ever done.
If anyone would like to learn more about volunteering as a mentor to a child, or has any other ideas or opportunities to get the word out about our need for Bigs, please reach out to me or Recruitment and Enrollment Specialist, Rebekah Hawkins, at rhawkins@bigsindiana.org. We can also be reached by phone by calling 812-334-2828.
Thank you again to Bloomingfoods and the Bloomington community!
Sincerely,
Caitlyn Graber
Program Manager
cgraber@bigsindiana.org
Visit their website to learn more: https://www.bigsindiana.org/