It’s simple to be part of something Big. The magic of Big Brothers Big Sisters only requires one caring adult and one hour a week to impact the life of a child. In the words of Little Sister Kylee, “Three things that I like about my Big are: I like the way she cares about me like I was her real little sister. I also like the way she makes sure I’m safe. The last thing I like is the way we play together and the way she listens to me.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Maine facilitates friendships that are both powerful and cherished – relationships similar to the one between Kylee and her Big Sister.

After another successful year, the organization is joining with area schools in Hancock, Washington, and Penobscot counties again to provide on-site mentoring programs for children who need an additional caring adult friend.

Last year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Maine matched over 500 children with mentors in the three counties. This year, the agency aspires to increase the matches in the school-based programs, which begin this fall.

Participating schools include those in Bangor, Winterport, Brooklin, Brooksville, Castine, Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor, Deer Isle-Stonington, Blue Hill, Ellsworth, Trenton, Surry, Bucksport, Machias, East Machias, Machiasport, Lubec, Eastport, Calais and Woodland.

School-based mentoring is an excellent way to influence a child’s life through a supportive, supervised environment. While the structure of each program will differ slightly according to school schedule, the benefit is the same.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is one of the oldest and most effective youth programs whose approach is proven to help kids stay in school, avoid drug use and improve relationships and attitudes. Compared to their peers, children matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister are less likely to drink alcohol or resort to physical violence, according to the Public-Private Ventures 1995 Big Brothers Big Sisters Impact Study.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Maine was founded in 1998 in Ellsworth as a program of Downeast Health Services, Inc. In 2001 it extended to Machias, and in 2003 it established offices in Calais and Bangor. The organization is an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and is a member organization of the United Way of Eastern Maine.

In 2003, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Maine was chosen as one of eight Big Brothers Big Sisters of America affiliates to participate in a three-year national research study focused on the benefits of school-based mentoring. The findings will be released in 2006 and will help the school-based mentoring program grow nationally as a tested effective model.

New programs will start in middle schools in Winterport and Greenbush later this fall.

As Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Maine strives to serve more youth in grades two through eight this year, additional support from the business community is vital. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Maine urges local businesses to provide employees with a small amount of time each week to befriend a child.

Adults interested in spending one hour a week as a mentor will be asked to complete a short application. Each applicant will be interviewed, screened and trained by Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Maine staff. Mentors will then be matched with children based on mutual interests and the child’s individual needs. Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Maine staff will provide each mentor with on-going support and supervision.

As a mentor, whether you learn a new game, bond over a heart-to-heart talk, or share a new joke, little moments like these have the power to influence a child in a big way.

For more information on how to become a Big, or to support the program, call (800) 492-5550 or send an e-mail to bbbshc@downeasthealth.org.