Big Brothers Big Sisters North Simcoe (BBBSNS) is looking for a few good men and women.
The agency currently needs 100 school-based mentors to help out during the upcoming school year.
This includes Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny, Tay and Springwater Townships. BBBSNS is currently involved with nine schools, but hopes to build stronger partnerships to deliver the program to the students who are currently waitlisted.
When JoAnn Stephan became the organization’s executive director, BBBS of North Simcoe averaged one to two new mentors every three months. Now, the average is one to two mentor applications a week.
“I believe that COVID sparked something in people and with our community,” says Stephan. “That’s a 30 per cent increase in volunteer applications and a 40 per cent increase in the number of matches made within the agency.”
The school-based mentoring program strives to provide youth with a positive role model and friend, promotes the importance of staying in school and healthy relationships with family and peers, encourages leadership and independent thinking, and instills trust and self-confidence in order to make healthy decisions.
"This volunteer opportunity requires just one hour a week of your time for the school year of September to June," Stephan said. "You are paired with a student either in person or virtually and your main role is to make a social and personal connection that will ignite the potential of that child."
Mentoring can either be done virtually or in person (COVID restrictions pending).
“The great thing about this being offered online is that you can do it anywhere!” the agency noted. “ Snow bird, no problem! You can log in while enjoying the warm sun!”
The program can also appeal to working individuals since using “your lunch break once a week could make the world of difference in a youth’s life.”
Mentor and mentees can spend their hour doing board games, crafts, talking, reading, or just spend the time together. This program runs throughout the school year, and matches don’t meet during summer break or any other holidays.