31 ‘Bigs’ in 31 days

LIMA — Big Brothers Big Sisters is launching a campaign to obtain 31 bigs in 31 days. The goal of the campaign is to recruit adult mentors during the month of January.

Executive Director John Neville joined Outreach Coordinator Chris Jackson to discuss the program at the Mayor’s Press Conference Wednesday morning.

“I get calls regularly from a parent who calls and wants to talk about the problems their child is having,” said Neville. “Maybe there is no father in the home or maybe they are running with the wrong crowd or they are not interested in school and they want to know if we can help. We can help but at times we have to tell them we cannot help right now because we don’t have any mentors to help with their son or daughter.”

Neville and Jackson hope to change this narrative. BBBS plans to reach out to local service clubs, churches and organizations that may have members interested in giving back to the youth.

Mentors can participate in a school-based program where they can mentor a child at school or a community-based match where you do things within the community.

Neville shared his experience with his little brother.

“I met my little brother at school,” added Neville. “I started working with him in the 6th grade and I worked with him all throughout 8th grade. Sometimes if the gym was open we would shoot hoops, sometimes we would go out with a football and just throw or sometimes he needed help with math.”

Neville also said it was a wonderful experience mentoring his little brother and he believes it was a wonderful experience for him.

“That is what mentoring is about just giving an hour a week of your time to invest in a child,” said Neville.

Jackson said he was contacted by Neville to become a big brother shortly after retiring from the Lima Fire Department.

“When John reached out to me I went over with the intentions of being there for a few months and now I have been there for two years,” said Jackson. “Definitely a rewarding experience. Just changing lives. If you see the young man that I have and just see the look on his face. He is a great young man; doesn’t have a father figure so I’ve been able to step into that role.”

For more information contact Chris Jackson by phone at 419-222-8500 or by email at [email protected].

Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.