Ever heard of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Harrisonburg-Rockingham County? More than 500 JMU students have: Last year 70 percent of the program’s volunteers were JMU students, with 529 JMU big brothers and sisters being matched to littles in the community.
“We are absolutely thrilled with our ongoing partnership with James Madison University and its students,” Sue Totty, executive director of BBBS in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, said. “This relationship is a critical factor in our ability to provide quality mentoring services to so many children in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.”
Allie & Amaya 1Volunteers of BBBS are required to commit to one calendar year of service with their “littles.” This means three semesters of commitment with the program for college students. The bigs and littles spend a minimum of one hour together each week. They either meet at a school site or somewhere within the community; this depends on which of the two programs the big and little have signed up for.
Photos: Allie Emerick, a JMU graduate student studying elementary education, and her little, Amaya, were matched more than three years ago. They have spent at least an hour each week together since.
Allie Emerick and her little sister, 9-year-old Amaya, met in August 2010. They enjoy walking Emerick’s dog, playing in the park and doing homework together. Emerick is currently a graduate student but was matched with Amaya as an undergrad while pursuing her interdisciplinary liberal studies degree.
“I have been with my little sister for BBBS for over three years,” Emerick said. “I love being around kids, so it started out as a way for me to get some ‘kid time’ and have a break from studying, etc., and turned into so much more. I know that even after I am no longer at JMU, I will still keep in touch with my little and visit when possible.”
There’s a wide array of activities the matches do together. In the community, popular activities include baking, going to the park, playing sports, riding bikes or volunteering together. In the school-based setting, matches usually have lunch together, go to recess, play games, work on homework or do arts and crafts.
“Allie is a great big sister,” Amaya said. “We laugh a lot together. Allie is showing me how to be a teacher. She took me to her school when she was student teaching. I am happy that she is my big sister.”
To be matched with a little, volunteers fill out a written application and include three positive references, participate in an in-person interview and orientation and get a background check. A community-based volunteer must also have driving records and insurance background checks.
“Each match in our program is unique,” Cara Hopson, communications specialist for BBBSHR, said. “And is made with careful consideration of the interests and preferences of the big, the little and the little’s parent or guardian. Matches between adults and children [are made] with compatible personalities.”
Littles can be anywhere from 5 to 14 years old and are referred to the agency through an adult in their lives, or may even send in a request themselves. There is consent required from student and parent and an agreement made that the child’s experience will be positively supported throughout program.
Allie & Amaya 2“Allie has really brought out Amaya’s personality,” Alona, Amaya’s mom, said. “She has given Amaya a chance to do things that she wouldn’t have been able to do before. Since being matched, Amaya is more interested in getting involved with different activities … Allie and Amaya have been matched for three years and it’s been great to see them grow together.”
Even though Harrisonburg’s agency is the largest, Richmond’s program runs on a larger budget of $951,500. It serves 626 children. All agencies of Big Brothers Big Sisters encourage no cost or low cost activities though, so this budget does not affect the quality of activities bigs and littles engage in.
“Harrisonburg-Rockingham County is the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in the state of Virginia regarding the number of children served,” Hopson said. “In 2012, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Harrisonburg served 752 kids. Our budget was $579,773.”
The mission of BBBS is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported, one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better. With the help of JMU students, Big Brothers Big Sisters is changing more lives in Harrisonburg than anywhere else in Virginia.