Rock n’ bowl with Big Brothers Big Sisters
Dakota Wright loves walking her dog, drawing and swimming. But she also needs someone to share her passions with.
Luckily, her wish may soon come true after Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County raised $53,136 and counting at its 39th annual Bowl for Kids Sake fundraiser in New Glasgow, putting them well on track to surpass their goal of $55,000.
“We hope to end our wait list, it’s a huge goal but I think if we work together we can make sure these kids have mentors and come back and contribute to the community,” said executive director Margie Grant-Walsh.
However, this year’s fundraiser was tinged with sadness, as participants held an hourly sparkler lighting ceremony to honour the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team, who lost 15 of their members in a bus crash on Friday night in Saskatchewan.
“Today was such an amazing day for Big Brothers Big Sisters and Bowl for Kids Sake but such a sad day for our Big Brothers Big Sisters of Humboldt family and their community,” said a post on the group’s Facebook page.
Money raised from Bowl for Kids Sake will go towards mentoring programs across Pictou County.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is active in 18 local schools as well as in the wider community.
Anyone older than 16 can sign up to mentor a younger child.
Mentors and mentees are matched based on personal interests, be they sports, music, cooking and many others.
Mentors can also offer a safe, non-judgmental place for children and youths two confide any issues they may be experiencing.
The oldest mentor was a 92-year-old man, proof that nobody is too old to help youth become active citizens who can give back to their local community.
“They’re happier and healthier and our statistics show that’s what happens,” said Grant-Walsh.
The group’s website says that successful outcomes for mentored youth include higher self-esteem, more achievements, better health, a sense of belonging and higher incomes when they enter the workplace.
Last year, Big Brothers Big Sisters had nearly 300 mentors paired up with younger children and teenagers.