By Tyler Maheu
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Due to a shortage of mentors, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vermont (BBBSVT) has issued an urgent call to the public. The call to action, titled 60 Bigs in 60 Days, is hoping to find adult mentors for the youth of the Springfield, Vermont area.
According to BBBSVT Executive Director Kimberley Diemond, BBBSVT is a “one-to-one” mentorship program, where adult mentors get paired with youths to create meaningful relationships. A big focus is on honing their skills and growth outside of a school setting. To become a Big Brother or Big Sister, individuals must be 18 years of age or older, with a valid driver’s license (at least for the community-based program), and be able to pass a background check. Diemond stated that the background checks are to insure that mentors are bringing children into a healthy space, and that they can be a good role model.
The program is seeking out people with a variety of skill sets and interests, in order to create a wide number of options to match bigs and littles with. “We match energy for energy, as well as personalities that match well together,” said Diemond. This helps make sure that there is a better chance for compatibility between the two people, but also that no mentor is having to go too far out of their comfort zone, or out of things that they would like to do in their daily life.
Diemond stated that the shortage of mentors is largely due to two reasons. “There are a couple of reasons. One, school is around the corner so this is a busy time,” said Diemond in a Wednesday phone interview. “Two, over the past couple of years it has been harder to find volunteers through the pandemic.”
As with many other programs, the COVID-19 pandemic forced BBBSVT to get creative with their mentoring, often through online meetings, outside activities, and indoor meets with masks. Due to the pandemic, there has been a shortage in the number of volunteers coming forward, leading to a long waiting list of kids. The waiting list is reportedly largely filled with boys seeking male mentors. A press release from BBBSVT states that the program particularly needs, “male volunteers and volunteers who are black, indigenous and people of color to best fit the requests of youth who are waiting. Couples and families are also encouraged to apply.”
60 Bigs in 60 Days is the organization’s big push to lower the number of children on the aforementioned waiting list. This urgent program will run through Mid-October. Diemond said that this is, “so we can start interviewing them. We provide a get to know you, background checks, online training, and an orientation in order to learn the program.”
According to the press release, children who partake in a Big Brothers Big Sisters program are 46% less likely to use illegal substances, 27% less likely to abuse alcohol, and 52% less likely to skip school. At the same time, it is often life changing for the mentors as well. “Once someone becomes a big, we are constantly told it did not take as much of their time as they thought, and that they are learning just as much from the littles as they are from them.” She stated, “You just need to be a human, that wants to spend some time with a young person.”
Anyone interested in the program is encouraged to contact Diemond at 802-689-0092 or email her them at [email protected]. Further information can also be found at bbbsvt.org.
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