With a list of 22 youth waiting for mentors, Big Brothers Big Sisters Prince Albert is seeking adult volunteers.
“We’re recruiting for everything,” event fundraising co-ordinator and volunteer Allyson Wall said, citing several different volunteer initiatives.
The efforts range from one-on-one time to group activities, either in school or out, with time commitments dependent on what the volunteer is able to provide.
An underlying goal behind the volunteer organization is to provide youth with positive role models, caseworker Carol Kaboroff said.
“Ninety-nine per cent are from single-parent homes, and usually without fathers, so the mom wants the boy to have a positive role model and a man to do stuff with,” she explained.
“It really does have a big impact on the kids.”
With most single-parent households headed by a woman, male volunteers are the most sought-after, although it’s mostly women that volunteer.
“But, we’re not going to turn away women,” Kaboroff noted, adding that women can mentor boys as well as girls.
The only thing asked of from volunteers is their time, she said, with little or no financial requirement involved.
Though special outings can be organized, “It’s also nice to take them home, to bake cookies or make a meal with them or just take the dog for a walk,” she said.
“You don’t have to do something special … just hang out.”
Special outings can be organized free of charge, thanks to various organizations providing Big Brothers Big Sisters Prince Albert with free tickets to things.
When she saw me for the first time this year, she gave me a big hug and said ‘I missed you! - Allyson Wall - Big Brothers Big Sisters Prince Albert volunteer
Wall is an active volunteer in various Big Brother Big Sister Prince Albert initiatives, and is paired up with a young girl on an in-school basis.
The girl has a hard time of things in school and is picked on, “So, her and I do a lot of fun things,” Wall said.
“When she saw me for the first time this year, she gave me a big hug and said ‘I missed you!’
“It makes you feel good, when you see some little girl running down the hallway and giving you a guy — it just makes you feel great!”
Big Brothers Big Sisters Prince Albert has deemed October Mentoring Month, with the group setting a goal of signing up 20 new volunteers by the end of the month, more than doubling the current volunteer total of 14.
So far, they’ve signed up five, Kaboroff said.
“It’s not that big of a commitment,” she encouraged, noting that depending on the initiative the volunteer opts to be part of, it can be as little as two hours per month.
Perspective volunteers can visit the organization’s website, online at www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/princealbert , or phone either Wall or Kaboroff at 922-1299.
Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and pass a criminal record check.
