Western football players are teaming up with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization to become mentors for youth in Whatcom County, lessening the county’s shortage of Big Brothers.
Western assistant coach John Bowers said 27 players will be matched up with children between the ages of 7 and 13 years old. For approximately an hour a week, the players will hang out with their Little Brothers at school, becoming role models and positive influences, he said.
“Someone has identified [these children] as needing another positive person in their lives,” Bowers said. “The more people you put in touch with them to listen to their problems and share their joys, the better.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a nationwide organization that pairs 5-to-18-year-olds with volunteer mentors, said Melisa Donnelly, the program director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Washington. The Little Brothers or Sisters, called Littles, and their mentors, Bigs, spend time together at school or in the community hanging out, going to parks, playing games, doing homework or other activities of their choice.
Teachers, counselors or parents refer youths to Big Brothers Big Sisters, but youths choose whether they want to do the program, Donnelly said.
The more time youths spend with their mentors, the better they do in school, Donnelly said.
“After a year or two in the program, they show a positive change in their behavior, grades and attendance," she said. "They’re less likely to be involved with alcohol and drugs at an early age.”
Approximately 200 youths are enrolled in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Whatcom County, Donnelly said. There is a shortage of Big Brothers because more Little Brothers are referred to the program, while more Big Sisters volunteer, she said.
Bowers said he got the idea to involve the team with Big Brothers Big Sisters last spring after meeting a young woman who worked for the organization. She told him Whatcom County was 80 Big Brothers short of what was needed, he said.
After the football season ended, Bowers decided spring was the time to help lessen the shortage of male volunteers.
“We’ve got a lot of manpower,” he said. “We can knock a chunk out of that number.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters offers two programs for youths and their mentors. In the community-based program, Bigs and Littles spend time in the community going out to eat, playing in the park and more, Donnelly said.
The school-based program, which Western football players will be participating in, allows Big Brother and Sisters to spend time with their Littles at schools in Whatcom County. They can go to the school library and work on homework, play ball on the school courts, eat lunch or go anywhere on school grounds, Bowers said.
Teachers let Bigs take their Littles out of class because they think the program is so positive, he said.
Western junior wide receiver Rick Copsey said he signed up to be a Big Brother because he wanted to help someone younger than himself who needs a role model. When he goes to his Little’s school for their one-on-one, Copsey said he might help out with homework or shoot hoops.
“I’d like to do something sports related because that’s my type of thing,” Copsey said. “But if he wants to play chess, I’m down to play chess.”
Players will be matched up with their Littles by March or April, Donnelly said. The enrollment process takes approximately one month and includes filling out an application with three references, an hour-long interview, background checks and fingerprinting, she said. Once the volunteers are accepted into the program, they are matched with a Little based on personality and interests.
Western senior offensive lineman Dan Trask said he has an interview with Big Brothers Big Sisters on March 4.
“It’s my last year here, so I thought I’d give a little back to the community,” Trask said.
He said he and his fellow players will act as role models for their Little Brothers, giving them someone to talk to.
“A lot of the guys are fortunate enough to have grown up with a good family and a good base,” Trask said. “Some kids aren’t as fortunate.”
Bowers said the football players are excited to help out in the community and share a part of their lives with their Little Brothers.
“You’re not doing this to gain anything,” Bowers said. “It’s to give something — yourself, the best thing you can give.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters:
Get involved:
Phone: (360) 671-6400
Web site: www.bbbs-nw.org
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