When I was in college, I volunteered to be a big sister in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. I always loved babysitting and any excuse to watch cartoons, so I thought it would be fun to spend a few hours a week with a little girl or boy who was in need of a friend.
It was an extensive process to become a big sister. I had to fill out a long application, they called references to check me out, did a home visit to see where I lived {I'm sure they were impressed with our lovely dorm room} and I had to interview with a Match Specialist before I was given my little sister.
Her name was Yashira and she was the cutest & sweetest little 8 year old girl. I met her one cold wintery night on the last day of fall semester my freshman year. I remember the exact day because my car was piled high with lots of dirty laundry and junk from my dorm room as I was on my way home for Christmas break after I met with her. The initial meeting was set at Yashira's mom's work - a Hispanic resource center close to campus. The Match Specialist and Yashira's mom were both at the meeting, but they left me and Yashira alone to get to know each other.
She was shy that first night. I told her I liked her name, and it reminded me of that singer Shakira. We talked about our favorite singers and songs. We talked about what we liked to watch on TV and what her favorite subjects were in school. It was an effortless and instant connection.
Over the next semester, I picked Yashira up from the Boys & Girls Club on Wednesday afternoons. We spent a few hours doing whatever she wanted to do. This usually involved grabbing something to eat, singing along with the radio, and then finding an activity to do together. One time we took a bunch of construction paper and markers and found a grassy area on campus to spread out, and we made posters about being kind to the environment. I loved that Yashira wanted to do things to make the world a better place and that she only wanted to listen to Christian radio.
She had an awesome mother who was raising her up to be a wonderful young lady, but because she was a single mother she had to work a lot and needed someone to spend a few hours a week with Yashira while she was busy working. That is why the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program is such a wonderful organization.
These are amazing little kids and the program does a great job of matching them with mentors who are dedicated to being their Big Bro or Sis for a few hours a week. Each year BBBS has a fundraiser called Bowl For Kids Sake. There are teams of 5 people who try to raise money for BBBS, and then we all get together and have a bowling party to celebrate. It's a lot of fun & it's a great cause!
If you would like to contribute to this cause, please follow this link to donate to my team online. If you would rather donate by check or cash, I can take that as well - just shoot me an email & we'll work out those details! {emilylynndillard@gmail.com}
Bowl for Kids Sake is on Saturday, February 23 so I'll be taking donations up until that day. Please pray about your gift. Even $5 is a generous and thoughtful gift -- and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
I don't meet with Yashira anymore -- she is probably 17 or 18 years old by now. My life got too busy with school and work and I had to stop volunteering as a big sister after our first year. She still invited me to her birthday party & there were no hard feelings, but I still miss our fun times. Since I stopped volunteering, I've participated in the Bowl for Kids Sake fundraiser every year. I feel that it is the least I can do - even if it is just a small thing. If we all do our small part, it can make a HUGE impact on the life of a little girl or boy.
Thanks & have a great day!
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