GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – With many looking for ways to make an impact in 2019, Big Brothers Big Sisters says being a mentor is a way to achieve that goal.
January is National Mentoring Month and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin knows what that means to a child.
Joy Wick, Communications Director says to kick off 2019, they are in need of mentors for their program.
“Right now we have almost 100 children who are waiting to be matched with their mentor and more than half of those are boys, so we have a great need for male mentors.”
The need is for boys of all ages.
We tend to have younger boys age 7-10, but we do have some older boys as well.”
Wick says they do have girls waiting as well, and many of those are in the pre-teen and teenage years.
Wick says the power of mentoring sometimes gets overlooked, and simply spending time with a child doing what you normally do can make a big difference.
“Each child to reach their full potential in life needs seven positive influences.”
She says one of the biggest concerns is that people feel they do not have enough time to mentor, but Wick says all you need to do is incorporate that child that you are mentoring into your normal activities.
“If you go grocery shopping on Thursday’s, take that child grocery shopping, they will enjoy the time together and learn some things at the same time,” Wick says.
The program allows mentors to spend time doing activities with their little either in the community or at site-based locations.
Wick says it is a win-win for all.
“It is not just beneficial for the child, but our mentors have so much fun.”
Mentors are needed in Brown, Door and Shawano County.
You can learn more about how to be a mentor at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin website.
