We have all heard of them, but what do they do? Why should we be involved?
The Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Mission statement is to “Provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.” They can back that up with studies showing that “littles” stay out of trouble and do better at school.
BBBS doesn’t provide food or financial assistance to families. It doesn’t build houses, fix cars or teach a trade. What it actually does is so simple that it sounds silly: BBBS matches-up adults with kids so they can hang out and have a great time (Ok, I’m sure the organization’s definition would be a little more complex than that, but in reality that’s what we do). I have been matched-up with a “little” at Pleasant Valley Elementary School for the past 3 years or so, and let me tell you we have a blast. We play football and basketball together and drive the lunch lady crazy. Sometimes we do homework that is past due, or talk about behavior or troubles at home, but mainly we have fun.
It almost seems wrong to say that I’m “volunteering” or “giving my time.” When you walk into a room and you are met by a kid with the biggest smile in the world, you realize that you are getting a whole lot more than you are giving.
My definition of what BBBS does is this: Big Brothers Big Sisters is about matching adults with kids. It’s about mentoring, playing, and spending time together. It’s about believing in a kid and making sure they know they are special. It’s about being a bright spot in a kid’s life, making them smile, and giving them hope.
Providing hope seems simple, but in reality it is priceless.
Best to you and yours,
Greg
Check-out the local news coverage of Beach Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2018!
We had an absolute blast at this event benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Harrisonburg-Rockingham County! We had some new faces on our team this year, as well as some familiar ones. Time is always well-spent with our Green Valley family, especially when it is spent helping our community.
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