Big Brothers/Big Sisters

[Overview] [Programs] [Volunteer Opportunities] [For More Information] [Navigation Map] [Page Credits]

Big Brothers/Big Sisters is a private, non-profit agency which matches adult volunteers with children from single-parent families. The goal of this friendship is to help the child with the tough job of growing up, expose him or her to new learning experiences, and to help strengthen his or her self-esteem.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters is an affiliate of the United Way of Delaware and receives a sizable percentage of its budget from this funding source.

Programs

There are three Big Brother/Big Sister programs which match volunteers one-on-one with a needy child:

Big Brother/Big Sister Program: The volunteer is matched with a child, age 6-14, who needs extra adult attention and guidance. The volunteer and child get together about once a week to do things they both enjoy. The goal of the friendship is to help the child with the tough job of growing up, expose him or her to new learning experiences, and help strengthen self esteem.
Teen Mentor Program: The Volunteer gets together twice a month with a teenager. Based on the same idea as the traditional Big Brother/Big Sister experience, Mentor Volunteers also help their Little Brother or Little Sister with social skills, school work, career choices, or job skills.
School Mentor Program: The volunteer gets together with his/her Little Brother or Sister one hour a week during the child's school day. During these visits, the volunteer and child can play games, do school work, have lunch together in the cafeteria or just talk. As in the other programs, the goal is to provide the child with an adult friendship that can strengthen his or her self esteem.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers range in age from 18 to 65, and above. They vary in interests, marital status, education, profession, and personality, but all share an interest in and commitment to helping children. Through the interview process, the Big Brothers and Big Sisters professional staff determines that each person is a stable, mature, adult who is capable of being a positive role model to a child.

Volunteers have to be at least 18, have access to a car (and a valid drivers license) and must be able to make a one year commitment to the program. They also must complete the interview process:

attend an orientation session
fill out an application
provide four references
have an interview in the agency office
and have a home visit

In addition, the agency does a criminal history check and a driving record check on all potential volunteers. After those steps have been completed, the agency staff will decide whether or not the applicant is appropriate for the program.

For More Information

Phone Contact: (410) 543-BIGS
Gigi Suntum, Project Coordinator
Address: 1915 N. Salisbury Boulevard, Unit 5, Salisbury, Maryland 21801

Navigation Map

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Page Credits

Created by Jeri Collette - May 1, 1996, Maintained by: The Nexus WebTeam. Comments/suggestions are welcomed at: MHFAGAN@SSU.EDU.

URL: http://www.intercom.net/npo/bigs/index.html - Last updated: July 21, 1996.
visits since May 13, 1996.