Murphy – While many students are enjoying their summers, the positive effects of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Cherokee County are still happening.
Senior program coordinator Gloria Dockery said with a new school year approaching, the need for more adult volunteers to be role models and positive influences for youth is ever growing. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves young people starting at age 5 in one-to-one mentoring friendships that can last the test of time.
 |
Bigs and Littles will hang out 2-3 times per month for a few hours doing normal, everyday activities involving academics or play. While many Bigs are high school students, adults in the community are also Bigs.
There are two types of adult volunteers, community-based and site-based, where the Big will come to the child’s school once a week for an hour. Visits usually include 30 minutes of academic tutoring and 30 minutes of playing games provided by the program.
Tina Raffler is one of those adult volunteers who have found their passion for mentorship and made a positive mark on a Little. Two years ago, she wanted to become more involved with her community and spoke to a friend of hers on the BBBS Board of Directors to get started.
“I was raised by a single dad, so I would have loved to have a mother figure in my life,” Raffler said.
Once she inquired, it wasn’t long before she was united with her Little. Dockery stated that community-based Bigs go through an application process that involves an in-depth background check, references and interviews.
Raffler was matched quickly with a local girl and bonded quickly over their love for pineapple and pepperoni pizza.
“We meshed from day one,” Raffler said. “She was a little shy at first, then she opened up. We get together once a week in the school year, and I see her in the summer as well.”
The two enjoy going to the pool or movies during the summer, deepening the bond to make them like family.
“She came to my son’s birthday party not long ago and helped set up,” Raffler said about getting a cake and balloons with her Little. “I plan to be her friend forever.”
Raffler encourages more adults to become a Big because it’s not a time-consuming obligation, and it’s fulfilling in a way that makes a person’s heart happy to help children.
Wil Posey, pastor of Murphy First United Methodist Church, is also a community-based Big. He has been paired with his Little for five years, going with him from elementary school to entering high school this fall.
“It’s been a great experience all the way through,” Posey said. “When he was in elementary school, it was a lot of me going to school to play and do some classwork. Then in middle school, we shifted to being community-based so we would meet up outside of school.”
Posey said he and his
Little will get ice cream or go play some basketball. Since he’s started working on getting his learner’s driving permit, Posey has been teaching him how to operate a manual transmission vehicle.
“Do it, show up, be curious and be a positive, stable influence in a Little’s life,” Posey said. “I would have loved to have had a Big; it’s one more positive adult who’s invested in you.”
Posey expressed that more men are needed to be a difference in the lives of boys in the community.
BBBS is hoping to make 100 matches this year and needs the community’s help to achieve this goal. A Big can make a positive difference in a Little’s life – and make their own life that much richer in the process.