 Eugene
Family YMCA
We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities. |
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Community Based Mentoring... In our Community Based program, we match caring adult community volunteers with Lane County youth who can benefit from the added attention and support. We perform thorough background checks on all volunteers. The child and his parent or guardian are interviewed to determine the strength and challenges that the volunteer will be working with. Staff then provides regular supervision to ensure safety and benefit to the child.
The staff of Big Brothers Big Sisters, at the Y, makes every effort to see that the right youth is matched with the right volunteer mentor. We consider things such as activity levels, age preferences, interests such as sports or hobbies and values that complement the family's own. We provide support after the match is made, to keep the match consistent, healthy and creative.
Research has shown that children who receive one-to-one attention in this way are much more likely to attend school and to have improvement in grades; they are less likely to abuse substances such as drugs, alcohol and tobacco; they show fewer conflicts with peers and family.
Your contributions help to provide what is missing in the lives of many children: the attention of caring, safe adults with a desire to bring out the best in the children they are matched with. As a Big Brother or Sister, you get to do what you do best: care, teach, support, have fun. You are able to make a difference in the life of a child.
Your donations help us to keep this program staffed with trained professionals dedicated to providing this service to families and volunteers in Lane County. The children on our waiting list are hoping for your support. They sometimes call and ask "Have you found my Big Brother yet?" If they come to the office and see our female match coordinator, a little girl will ask, "Is she my Big Sister?" One of the greatest parts of this job is sharing the moment when a match is made. The volunteer, the child and the family have all met, and with a word, a nod or a "thumbs up", they let me know they want to go ahead with the match. There is a feeling that "this is going to be good." That things are looking up. That a Big Brother or Sister is going to get to do what they do best: care, teach, support, have fun.
The other way we welcome volunteers is to serve on our Advisory Board. These caring and generous folks help connect us with other elements in the community who can help support our mission They help with fundraising, developing programs and advising us on ways to serve even more kids.
Be sure to contact us if either of these seem right for you. You can come listen to an orientation to the program with no obligation to join.
For more information, please contact us at bbbs@eugeneymca.org or call us at 686-9622. TTY 541-284-4094.
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EUGENE FAMILY YMCA 2055 Patterson 686-9622 Eugene, Oregon |
We
coordinate or provide numerous activities through the year to serve both matches
and the youth who are waiting for a Big Brother or Big Sister. Thanks to
generous support from community groups, we take the "Bigs" and the "Littles"
sailing, fishing, rafting, to sporting events and much more.