Community Corner

Help a 'Little' to Get a 'Big'

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ozaukee County has plenty of room for volunteers ready to build a friendship with an area child.

Volunteering at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ozaukee County is all about adding a regular dose of fun to your life as well as a child's.

"We just want typical, everyday people, because we have typical, everyday kids," said Nicole Bulow, program manager and match support worker for the program.

The organization has about 30 kids in need of a Big Brother or Big Sister, Bulow said; many of the kids awaiting a big in the program right now are from Saukville and Port Washington.

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"These kids ... just want that friendship," Bulow said. "Our volunteers don't need to have experience with kids."

Keshawn, a 7-year-old in the program, said he looks forward to having a big with whom he can build with wood, play card games, video games and other games, as well as go fishing and play football.

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He hopes his "big" can be funny, goofy and athletic — and hopefully owns a pet.

Devon, 9, also looks forward to playing sports with his big — mostly football and maybe kickball — and looks forward to summer activities such as bike rides and trips to the pool. His favorite foods are tacos, pizza and spaghetti, and he also wants a big who will build and take him fishing, among other "boy" activities.

Oftentimes the program has many more boys looking for bigs, Bulow said. This is usually because the kids are being raised in a single-parent home, where the parent is the mother looking for a good male role model.

"We always have an urgent need, but right now we need more men who will be a friend to our boys who are just waiting to play some basketball, go fishing or just hang out and talking about guy stuff,"according to a pamphlet from BBBS. Bulow also said that the program does match different genders, but it depends on the wants and needs of the littles and bigs.

Bulow said BBBS offers support and training for all volunteers, and also conducts orientation interviews to help with matching littles and bigs. Volunteers usually commit to two or three activity dates with the kids per month, three to five hours each.

Activities can be anything from going to a movie, to ice cream trips, a quick lunch, time hanging out at the big's house, at a park or more. BBBS also has a deal with the YMCA, and littles and bigs all get in for free when heading to the Y together.

BBBS also has a school mentoring program, and volunteers spend time at the schools with their littles, helping with homework, reading and playing board games and other similar activities.

Volunteers must be at least 16 years old, and current volunteers range from college students to young adults with families to retirees. To learn more about volunteering, call (262) 377-0784 or visit the office, 885 Badger Circle, Grafton.


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