Big Brother Big Sisters needs support

Going out to lunch or dinner, working in an office environment and collaborating with colleagues, attending our son or daughter’s sporting event or school musical, shopping for groceries, hopping on a plan and traveling for business or pleasure. All of these activities and more were part of our daily lives that now has been dramatically altered due to COVID-19. In this previous life, you may or may not have noticed an adult with a child at the ballpark, at the library reading together or at your favorite ice cream place eating an ice cream cone together. This adult was a volunteer we call a ‘Big’ and a young person we call a ‘Little,’ and they were part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County’s one-on-one mentoring program. They were a ‘Match’ – our term for a mentoring relationship between a caring adult volunteer and a young person.

But what happens to fulfilling that mission now that we have had to stay at home and to keep six feet or more from another and events, sports, swimming pools and other group activities throughout Lorain County continue to be cancelled or postponed to the indefinite future?

What happens to these hundreds of established relationships and to the hundreds more in Lorain County who would benefit from being matched? Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County’s commitment to these Matches and this all-important social connection has been challenged like never before in our 30-plus year history.

Thankfully, our organization has been successfully pivoting and responding to the necessary measures put in place for social distancing by implementing ‘virtual’ interactions, employing video conferencing and encouraging the ongoing relationships between our Bigs and Littles in our current virtual environment, because a Big makes a significant difference in the life of a Little. Our Littles come from economically challenged situations which will be further impacted by COVID-19. Some are in families that struggle with substance abuse or mental health issues. Many are from single parent households. Now more than ever, there is a need for our program within Lorain County.

Big Brothers Big Sisters needs the support of our caring community here in Lorain County now more than ever. While in-person fundraisers such as our Bowl for Kids’ Sake have been cancelled or postponed to the future, the financial need to sustain our program exists. We ask likeminded individuals and companies to join us in our efforts and to help us make a measurable impact in the life of a deserving young person. Visit www.bigloraincounty.org to learn how you can help.