September is Big Brothers Big Sisters Month.
Big Brothers and Big Sisters are people who are patient, kind, great listeners, and open to new experiences.
Little Brothers and Little Sisters are great kids between the ages of 5 and 18, anxiously waiting for a friend. John and Cristian are a perfect example.
Little Brother Cristian, 11-years old but nearly the taller of the two, and Big Brother John, 57, have been matched almost four years to the day, but when you talk to both of them they will say it seems like only yesterday they set off for the first time on a journey that has included so many different things together.
The following is a list of what they could remember doing together in the past four years, because there’s simply too much to cover: skiing, biking, theatre, motorcycle repair, swimming, golfing, sledding, four wheeling, drag racing (watching them at the track that is), stock car races, movies, group barbecues, College Royal (University of Guelph), skating, hockey, basketball, fishing, rock climbing, bowling, building model cars, Einsteinfesting, participating in the Fergus Santa Claus parade, skipping stones, and just talking about whatever comes into their active minds.
Cristian and John have a friendship not unlike others in the Big Brother Big Sister organization; a friendship in which they benefit equally, and a friendship which neither would give up for all the tea in China. People may ask how this could be possible when there is such a big age difference between them, but John’s answer is a quite simple one: “All of us are kids at heart, so why not follow your heart?”
Is there anything else these two could possibly do, given they have done so much already?
They have already put plans in place for next year to maybe take in a NASCAR race, try out Blue Mountain (think snow), ride their bicycles to camp overnight somewhere, and get John to finally dive off the diving board – that’s Cristian’s job.
The Big Brothers Big Sisters website includes a question for all the adults in our community wondering what to do about the quality of life thing: “Want to be a kid again? Is it time to follow your heart?”
It takes only a little time once a week to make a difference in the life of a child. At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington there are currently 18 “Littles” matched, but there are still 13 Little Brothers and 10 Little Sisters waiting to be matched with a friend.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington provide various programs for over 100 children in the community.
The one-to-one match, as described by John and Cristian, can develop into a lifelong friendship. While children are waiting for a match, the group program offers a time to get together with other children and volunteers to enjoy activities together.
The organization needs in-school mentors who enjoy volunteering one-to-one in a school setting once a week; some may be co-op placements for high school students or adults in the community who have time during school hours to encourage and have fun with a child.
Go Girls Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds – led by young women 19 to 30 – is a terrific opportunity once a week for seven weeks, with girls ages 12 to 14, after school.
Big Brothers Big Sisters needs volunteers now for its fall programs, and asks that people give them a call. Training and support is provided to mentors on an ongoing basis. Call Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington at 519-787-0106 or email to Bbbsofcw@aol.com.
