Forging long-term friendships
ABerwick couple who volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Annapolis Valley feel they have forged long-term friendships.
Ian Manning and MaryClaire Sanderson are Big Brother and Big Sister to 10-year-old Jordyn Carter of Waterville. They were matched in October 2019.
The trio generally gets together once a week and spends a lot of time outdoors. Activities have included taking a bike ride on the Harvest Moon Trail, hiking, dog walking, fishing, cooking, baking, building a snow fort and more. Jordyn said he really likes going “critter dipping” in ponds, streams and rivers. He sometimes uses a container to dip and see what he can catch.
Jordyn said he would recommend the Big Brothers Big Sisters experience to other kids. He looks forward to his visits with Manning and Sanderson with excitement. He learns a lot and has a lot of fun with them.
Jordyn said he particularly enjoyed the bike ride they went on when they were first matched. He also loves their tide pooling adventures, looking for crabs and other sea life.
“I’m not as bored as I was,” Jordyn said.
FORGING FRIENDSHIPS
Sanderson said they heard about volunteering as Big Brothers and Big Sisters from Manning’s brother and his brother’s wife, who suggested the couple register after they had a great experience volunteering in the Truro area.
Sanderson said she and Manning have volunteered in the community in several different capacities and thought that serving as a Big Brother and Big Sister duo would be another great opportunity to do so.
“I was new to the Valley, so it seemed like a really great way to meet people around here,” Sanderson said.
She has really enjoyed getting to know Jordyn, who they otherwise probably wouldn’t have met because of their age difference. Sanderson said it has been great having a young person around and getting to explore his interests together.
Manning said they appreciate
there are still a lot of Little Brothers and Little Sisters looking for a match, so they decided to sign up.
His brother and his brother’s wife were always telling them stories about the activities and adventures they share with their Little Brother, and it sounded like a lot of fun.
Manning said he likes hanging out with Jordyn and “getting to do cool stuff you might not otherwise make time for.”
It has become a part of the week that they really look forward to. Manning said it “takes a little bit of planning but it’s zero work” and they would recommend the experience to anybody.
He said an added bonus has been getting to know Jordyn’s grandmother, Duska Poirier.
“She has kind of become a really good friend too, and is someone we probably wouldn’t have met otherwise,” Manning said.
Poirier said it has been a great experience for her grandson – and for her. They all share similar interests, and Manning and Sanderson are in the same age range as her older children. In this regard, she said she considers them like another two of her kids.
“We’ve become very close, and I just love the relationship that they have with Jordyn and the experiences that Jordyn has with them,” Poirier said.
She said spending time with Manning and Sanderson is something that her grandson really looks forward to.
“A lot of it just sounds very simple, but he has so much fun and he learns so much from Ian and Mary-Claire,” Poirier said.
Manning and Sanderson said that Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Annapolis Valley mentoring co-ordinator Jessica Atwell couldn’t have done a better job matching them with Carter. And Poirier agrees.
IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS, SUPPORT
Atwell said there is definitely a need for more people to volunteer as Bigs, and in supporting roles such as board
members, committee members and for special events.
She said this is important, as their programs have significant benefits for the young people involved, the volunteers and the community as a whole.
Atwell said her favourite thing about working with Big Brothers Big Sisters is watching every individual on the waiting list and every match grow during the time they are part of the agency. She enjoys seeing the way Bigs connect with Littles, helping them reach their full potential.
Atwell said “it always brings a smile to my face” when former Bigs, Littles or families reach out to say hello and update them on what they’ve been up to.
She said the greatest impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Annapolis Valley has been on fundraising initiatives.
“The majority of our funding comes from the support of local small business and donors, and these have been most significantly impacted by the pandemic,” Atwell said.
She said they’ve also seen a reduction in the number of people inquiring with the agency. Perhaps the organization hasn’t been as top of mind in the community, as there have been fewer events and activities and Big Brothers Big Sisters has had less presence.
Atwell said they have been able to continue their community-based programs, although at times virtually, throughout the pandemic. Many of their matches have been creative in the way they spend time together when restrictions have impacted their typical inperson activities.
Some have spent time doing virtual karaoke, movies, games and crafts while others have opted to spend more time outdoors.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Annapolis Valley is a fully autonomous and independent charity with a local board of directors.
For more information, visit https://annapolisvalley.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/.