“What I like best about being a Lunch Buddy is that I already eat lunch, but now I get to share that time with someone who enjoys it just as much as I do. It' the highlight of my week. When else do you get to enjoy recess during the work day?”

             — Big Brother Ken

Community Based Mentoring

Community-based mentoring is our traditional program, and the most flexible. One adult and one child, carefully screened and matched, plan activities together several times a month on their own schedules. We don't tell them what to do or when, we just ask that they do it together. While throwing a ball, reading a book, or just picking up the laundry, Bigs and Littles develop a special relationship with lasting impact.

Community-based mentoring can happen wherever the adult and child are. We have hundreds of matches in every county - and hundreds of boys on our waiting list. We need male volunteers for these children. Right now girls who want a Big Sister can be matched quickly. We also have a Big Couple option (husband/wife, father/son, etc.) where you and another older family member can mentor a child.

School-Based (also known as Lunch Buddy) Mentoring

Site-based mentoring programs support elementary and middle school children by sending adult and high school volunteers to meet with them at their schools. Caring adults agree to spend 1 hour a week during lunch with a Little Brother or Little Sister to whom they are carefully matched. This is not a tutoring program: Bigs and Littles can eat lunch together, read in the library, play on the playground, or just talk. They meet once a week at an assigned time during the school yearand can write to each other over the summer.