Showing ‘big’ appreciation
ANNUAL FLY DAY CELEBRATES WORK OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS
Erin Saunders took her volunteering to new heights on Sunday. She was one of about 250 “bigs and littles” recognized during the fourth annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Fly Day appreciation event.
Fly Day is held each year with the assistance of Excel Flight Training and QL Aviation Services, who donate their time and airplanes. Participants had the opportunity to take a 15-minute flight over the city of Lethbridge.
BBBS matches children ages 616 with an older mentor, a “big brother or big sister,” fostering lifechanging relationships that inspire youth to reach their full potential.
Saunders has been a “big sister” for about 16 months. Over that time she’s formed a strong bond with her “little,” Mackenzie Arndt.
Saunders grew up alongside great role models who taught her the value of giving back to her community. She heard an ad on the radio for BBBS and thought it was a good fit.
“I myself went through my own battles with mental health when I was Mackenzie’s age, and I know how hard that transition can be through puberty, especially going from elementary school into high school,” she said. “So I wanted to be able to provide a friend, provide support, and a good listening ear for somebody and it happened to be Mackenzie.”
Saunders said she’s very thankful for her match with Mackenzie, and it’s been great to watch her grow.
“Even more than that, you go into mentoring programs and you think that you’re going to be the one making the difference in someone elses life, but I think Mackenzie’s made a huge difference in my life.”
Saunders said she’s become more in tune with her artistic side and Mackenzie’s helped her get back in touch with that “youthful outlook on life.”
“As adults I think we tend to forget that. So Mackenzie’s opened up my eyes a lot in the last year.”
As for volunteering, Saunders likes that the program is flexible and the pair can do whatever activities they want to do. They’ve gone mini golfing, kayaking, and hiking, but also enjoy watching movies and creating art projects. Their time together provides a much needed break from some of the stress of daily life.
“It’s really low-key, low pressure, something she can just kind of get away from school sometimes or life and just enjoy herself,” said Saunders.
For 12-year-old Arndt, having a big sister in her life has helped her immensely.
“It makes me feel less shy, because I used to be really shy,” she said. Erin helped her to get out more and try new things, she added, and has given her someone to look up to.
Matt White was one of the pilots who donated his time. He’s been a pilot for five years, and a flight instructor for the past two months with Excel Flight Training. It was his first year involved with Fly Day. He took a number of children and their mentors on picturesque landscape tours at 1,500 feet above the ground.
“It’s amazing,” said White. “It’s super rewarding every time I go up and can take somebody new. They’ve got a big smile on their face, I’ve got a big smile on my face ... It’s the best job I’ve ever had.”
Both Saunders and Arndt got to fly in a tiny four-seater plane, although not on the same flight. They took time to connect during the barbecue afterwards.
Fly Day is a way of appreciating everything the “bigs,” “littles,” their family members, and their sponsors do, said Jen Visser, executive director for BBBS Lethbridge and District.
The need for volunteers is still great. There has been a 30-percent growth in children served within the last year.
“Which has been wonderful to hold that capacity, but what has resulted is more kids coming on our waitlist,” said Visser. “There are kids in our community who need a mentor but right now we have close to 70 kids waiting.”
That’s the highest it’s ever been, she said. Volunteer hours are flexible — it could be anywhere from one hour per week for seven weeks to two or three hours per week.
“We have lots of different choices. The commitment isn’t as big as what people might think it is.”
To be a “big,” they require a minimum age of 18, however they also run a high school mentoring support program for students in Grades 9-12.
To volunteer, visit bebig.ca or call the office at 403-328-9355.
Follow @MelissaVHerald on Twitter