Big things start with something little

Tamara Crump, Staff Writer, The Hi-Times

The Big Brothers Big Sisters program is a nationwide mentoring network. The goal of the program is to create a positive, long lasting effect on young lives. The program was founded in New York in 1904. When it was first created, it was only a Big Brother program, but later it became Big Brothers and Big Sisters. The program has been active in North Mississippi for approximately 39 years.

Since around 2000, Tupelo’s Big Brothers Big Sisters has been led by program specialist Angie Owen. Her job is to advertise the program and maintain its volunteers. She makes sure the public is aware of the program and its benefits while also interviewing and evaluating volunteers and the children of the public.

Another task that Owen has is fundraising for Big Brothers Big Sisters. At the end of the year, there is a big fundraiser called Bowl for Kids. While the littles get to enjoy spending time with their bigs, the program also allows businesses a chance to donate.

The bigs are the mentors and the littles are the children. The bigs and littles are recruited and then matched to a little. It’s preferred that the bigs and littles are matched based on common interests, but that isn’t easy to manage.

There are also community bigs that are allowed to meet with their little outside of school times.

“I would like to match bigs and littles by the things they like to do, but I usually end up matching them together because of scheduling,” Owen said. “The community bigs usually get matched together based on things they like to do.”

While recruiting the bigs, Owen goes to schools with potential willing participants. Once the interviews and background checks have been done, three major training sessions are held during the summer. The sessions train the bigs what to do and what not to do when visiting their littles.

Expectations of a big include helping a little with school subjects they may be having difficulty in, discussing safety rules and keeping the children happy. There are 314 participants in Lee County and Itawamba, but there are only 157 matches currently.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is not only beneficial to the littles, but it can also be enjoyable. Both the bigs and the littles gain from the experience. The littles gain an older sibling who looks out for them. The bigs can learn anything from experience with children to just having a younger sibling to look after.

“I’ve always wanted to help a child that may be in need,” junior Avery Bush said. “It’s also a great experience since I’m looking into a career of teaching.”

Being close to the little is important, because a big needs to establish a relationship with their little. Once matched, the big and little spend the entire year together, so it’s best they have some kind of bond.

Around Christmas break, Owen requests the report cards of the littles, so she can decide if there is anything that the little may need help with. If there is, then Owen informs the big and they find a way to help the little. That’s why having a strong bond is important. The stronger the bond, the easier it will be to help the little with specific needs.

“I enjoy being a big, because it gives me the opportunity to connect with someone younger than me, and it allows me to make a difference in someone’s life,” junior Chera Jones said.