Big Brothers Big Sisters
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters (KSBBBS) serving Reno County is proud to celebrate BBBS Month this September by shining a light on its urgent need for volunteer mentors (Bigs) with the goal of matching 10 youth by the end of the year who are currently waiting for a Big.
Volunteerism across the nation has decreased by approximately 30% over the last decade, and Kansas is no exception, falling from 8th to 13th in the nation for citizens volunteering in their communities since 2021. Currently, KSBBBS serving Reno County has nearly 85 youth who are waiting for a mentor, with about 70% being Little Brothers.
“Our mission is to empower youth through meaningful, one-to-one mentoring relationships, but we can't do it alone,” said Shelly Chinberg, Reno County' s Area Director.
Kansas’ governor underscored the importance and impact of KSBBBS’ mission to help youth facing adversity via one-to-one mentorship by proclaiming September 2024 as Big Brothers Big Sisters Month in Kansas.
Chinberg continued, “With increased youth suicide rates in Kansas and the everyday struggles families face, the need for our services has continued to grow, and we are asking the help of our community to match our youth who simply need a friend.”
KSBBBS serving Reno County has been present in the community for nearly 25 years, having served thousands of youth facing adversity by pairing them with caring adult mentors in the community at no cost to families.
To help BBBS reach their goal and help change the lives of 10 local youth, consider:
Becoming a Big: Join nearly 80 Reno County Bigs by sharing a few hours of your time a with a youth like you in need of a friend. Learn more or get started at kansasbigs.org/be-a-big.
Refer a Big: Nominate someone in your life to be a Big with no obligation: kansasbigs.org/refer-a-big.
For more information on how you can help your local KSBBBS office match more youth with a local, caring one-to-one mentor, please contact KSBBBS at 620.259.9657 or [email protected].
Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization focused on serving youth facing adversity, ages 5 through 25, with a one-to-one professionally supported mentoring relationship. For more information about KSBBBS, visit www.kansasbigs.org.