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Experience the Magic of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Hear from Littles – and learn what it’s all about!
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- What is Big Brothers Big Sisters?
- Big Brothers Big Sisters is a non-profit agency that matches children with adults who help by simply being a special friend. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County is an affiliate of the nationally-known youth development organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
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- What is a "Big?"
- Bigs are our volunteers. Bigs are men and women who are at least 18 years old and have the desire to bring little moments of BIG magic into a child's life. Big Brothers and Big Sisters offer friendship and support to their Little Brothers and Little Sisters on a one-to-one basis.
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- What is a "Little?"
- A Little Brother or Little Sister is a child in our program between ages 6-14. Our Littles come from diverse ethnicities, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds and live in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.
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- How do the children and parents get into the BBBS program?
- All of the children and their families join Big Brothers Big Sisters because they want to get involved with a positive program that works. They usually hear about us through word of mouth, from their friends, relatives, schools, and other Bigs and Littles. To enroll your child, contact BBBS at 540-433-8886.
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- What is a "Match?"
- A match is the pairing of one adult (a Big) to one child (a Little). In order to make the best possible match, Big Brothers Big Sisters takes many factors into consideration when matching children with volunteers, including parent and volunteer preferences, geographic and time constraints, as well as similar interests and shared activities. We want every match to succeed -- so we put time and effort into making sure it does!
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- What is the benefit of Big Brothers Big Sisters?
- That's the magic of the program. While you're having fun with your Little you probably won't realize the tremendous difference you are making. Statistics from the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Impact Study, conducted by the national research firm Public/Private Ventures, showed that Little Brothers and Little Sisters were:
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- 46% less likely to start using illegal drugs
- 27% less likely to start drinking alcoholic beverages
- 52% less likely to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class
- 33% less likely to hit someone
- and generally were engaged in better relationships with their parents and peers
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- Does being a Big Brother or Big Sister require experience?
- You do not need any special skills or experience to be a Big. Just spending time and caring about your Little makes a difference in the life of a child. We were all kids once, it does not take special skills to be a friend.
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- Why should I become a Big Brother or Big Sister?
- Many Bigs describe their experiences with their match by saying, "I get to be a kid again" and you won't have to worry about your job, classes, or bills! Even better, you'll make a BIG difference in your community and in the life of a kid. Not only can you be there when it happens, but you can be the reason it did. Youth development experts agree that, in addition to their parents, children need additional supportive, caring adults in their lives.
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- Does being a Big Brother or Big Sister take a lot of time?
- As a Big Brother or Big Sister you decide your own schedule with your Little Brother or Little Sister. The days and time you spend with your Little are up to you. We only ask that you maintain regular contact with your Little on a consistent basis. You will see your Little Brother or Little Sister several times a month and do things that you already do. The average outing is anywhere from one to four hours.
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- What do Bigs and Littles do together?
- Bigs and Littles share everyday activities: playing sports, seeing movies, cooking, going over schoolwork, visiting museums, washing the car, taking walks, volunteering in their communities, or just hanging out. Most everything that Bigs and Littles do together is fun and beneficial to both the adult and child.
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- Does it cost a lot of money to be a volunteer?
- The idea is not to spend a lot of money, but instead to spend fun, quality time with a child. You can take a hike, go jogging in the park or just talk. It does not have to cost anything. There are many no cost activities which you can enjoy such as going for a walk, playing catch, or just talking. In addition, the agency schedules periodic free or low-cost activities for our matches which we encourage you to attend. Also, when you are matched, we'll give you a list of area businesses and restaurants that offer discounts to our matches.
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- As a Big, what kind of support will I get from Big Brothers Big Sisters?
- Each match has a professional Match Support Specialist who is there to support the child, parent and volunteer. The Match Support Specialist maintains regular contact to help with any problem solving, provide feedback and support and ensure that the match is making progress.
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- What is the application process like to be a Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer?
- The application process to become a volunteer depends on how quickly you get your application materials to us. The Application process includes a personal confidential interview, a criminal background check, driving record check, personal and professional references.
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