Growing up with someone to look up to can make a large difference in a child’s success. Big Brothers Big Sisters works with kids in communities to pair mentors with youth and provide another figure for children to learn from. In the Copper Country, Big Brother’s big sisters program has brought many youths out of their shells and offered new experiences with a mentor to cheer them on.
Just factoring another person into your life and sometimes you’re just doing things that you’d be doing anyway or you know as a volunteer it’s a lot of fun. I mean you get to go out and play have fun kind of be a giant kid again yourself explore places in the community that maybe you’ve never been to growing up here you can go out to a lot of places that you haven’t been to for a long time maybe since you were a kid yourself and you can share those places with a young person. – Maggie Munch, Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters Keweenaw Chapter
BBBS regional coordinator Maggie Munch got involved first as a kid in big brothers big sisters before becoming a mentor herself. Now as the program’s coordinator, she helps connect passionate mentors with young people in the community. She adds her own experience to show how a mentor-mentee relationship helps everyone involved.
“It’s really good self-care for our volunteers to get out and focus on someone else or something else. I know, before I worked for Big Brothers Big Sisters, I was a big sister myself. And, my little sister, I was matched to her when she was nine and until she was 17 years old. And we still stay in touch on occasion now and then. But when I was matched to her, and she was with me, I entered into it thinking, oh, I’m going to help out a young person in the community. And then I realized what a benefit it was to me.” – Maggie Munch, Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters Keweenaw Chapter.
Later this month Big Brothers big sisters will host a bowl for kid’s sake at the Mine Shaft of Houghton. The annual fundraising event supports the local Big Brother’s big sisters program. Munch says the fundraising opportunity is a great way to support the program. Especially for people who can’t fully commit to taking on mentor roles. Those interested in learning more about Bowl for Kids Sake with Big Brothers Big Sisters can find more information online here.
Bowl for Kids Sake with Big Brothers Big Sisters at the Mine Shaft in Houghton raises funds for the program through teams pledging a donation. The event will take place on March 15th. Teams register for the event and will receive a team packet full of information on fundraising tips, tools, and ideas. Register for Bowl for Kids Sake with Big Brothers Big Sisters here.
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