Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • W I N T E R 2 0 1 9 76 F O R T H E L o v e O F . . . ANOTHER OUTSTANDING MONTANA NONPROFIT. B I G B R O T H E R S B I G S I S T E R S Like many organizations doing great work, BBBS has some loveable jargon. For example, children who are matched with a mentor are called "Littles." e mentors themselves are "Bigs." "Bigs" can volunteer singly (as a "Big Brother" or a "Big Sister") or as "Big Couples" or "Big Families." Children ages five-fifteen from all different backgrounds, family structures, income levels, and needs enroll in the free program and, after an interview process and pending acceptance, are matched with a Big. Who are the mentors, or "Bigs"? Quite simply, they're caring people who want to improve a child's life by investing time to build a relationship. When Bigs and Littles spend time together, the sky's the limit in all seasons. Some matches snow-shoe and cross-country ski together. Others build snowmen and bake cookies. Other matches add activity ideas, written on slips of pa- per, to a jar and draw out one idea each week. No matter the season, Montana offers something for everyone, and BBBS matches reap the benefits of their geography. ey also reap the benefits of community- minded local business owners, many of whom offer discounted activities, rental equipment, or restaurant/café fare to BBBS matches when they show their BBBS ID. After all, BBBS believes that mentoring should focus on quality time together, not total dollars spent. In fact, the organization encourages low-cost or no-cost activities. How does BBBS ensure compatibility? What if matches don't "click"? e enrollment and matching process relies on curated interview questions, background checks, and reference calls for potential mentors, pre-match train- ings, and lots of professional support along the way. For the first year of a match, BBBS staff contact Bigs, Littles, and parents/guardians at least monthly to encourage and coach all par- ties. Child safety is BBBS's top priority; regular match support helps relationships develop in a safe and healthy way. "It's been a blessing," is how Big Brother Jake describes his relationship with Little Brother N (name abbreviated for privacy). BBBS matched Interested in becoming a mentor, enrolling a child, or supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters in an- other way? For more information, visit bbbs-gc.org or contact these branches in your area: BBBSmissoula.org BBBS-helena.org BBBSbutte.org BBBSparkcounty.org BBBSyc.org BBBSfc.org BBBS-gc.org B IG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS, ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S OLDEST AND BEST-KNOWN MEN- TORING PROGRAMS, MATCHES CHILDREN FACING ADVERSITY WITH LONG-TERM MENTORS. Maybe a child's parents recently divorced, maybe they're having trouble adjusting to a new school, or maybe they just need an extra grown-up in their lives to listen and help guide them. by MEGAN CUMMINGS

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