Big Brothers Big Sisters Sunshine Coast (BBBS) always needs volunteers, but they are currently emphasizing just how much they need them right now.
In fact, the mentoring agency currently needs 18 volunteers, and the need is an urgent one. The urgency is not based on a quota. Rather, the number is based on the need in the community. Helping at-risk children stay on the right path, the child-serving organization simply cannot wait.
"January is a critical volunteer recruitment time for us," said Joanne Kautz-Allard, program director at BBBS. "The closer we get to summer, the more drastic a drop in applications we see, which means more kids sit on a wait list - vulnerable to the adversities facing them."
While summer is several months away, the six- to eight-week intake process means volunteers who sign up right now won't start volunteering until late February at the earliest. The timing is particularly imperative to the in-school mentoring program, which involves volunteer participation throughout the school year only. By early March, it is already nearly too late for volunteers to join the program this school year.
"We don't want people to rush their decision to volunteer, but if it is something they have considered for a time, we ask them to take the initiative and give us a call to get answers to their questions," she said. "It is a commitment, but most people find it's not as time consuming as they initially think."
Both men and women can take part in the flexible in-school program in just one hour each week. To find out how you can volunteer now, see www.mentorsunshinecoast.com.
Big Brothers Big Sisters offers mentoring programs to at-risk children. The one-on-one friendships allow children the benefit of a positive role model.
On the Sunshine Coast, the less known in-school mentoring program operates, allowing matches to spend one hour each week on school grounds throughout the school year. The Sunshine Coast agency is operated as a satellite agency through Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver.
- Submitted
