Press Release

FORT WAYNE — Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for new volunteers in Kosciusko County as part of its summer recruitment campaign.

Based in northeast Indiana, Big Brothers Big Sisters connects local youth with mentors in their community for long-term supported friendships. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves 12 counties, with dozens of children waiting for Bigs in Warsaw and Syracuse.

Although volunteer rates suffered under COVID-19, Kosciusko County historically has some of the agency’s best Bigs, including local Big Brothers and Sisters like Wanda Tiltges, Terry and Sherri Milton, and Zane Hollar, all of whom have won Indiana state awards for Big of the Year.

The Littles in our program often come from single-parent homes and are in search of an extra role model to guide them through life and keep them on the right path to unleash their full potential. Bigs come from every walk of life and are hand-selected to match with a Little Brother or Sister who shares their interests, whether it’s arts and crafts or shooting hoops at the park.

In the Community-Based program, Bigs meet up with Littles once every two weeks to have fun in the community. This could mean a visit to the local library, swimming at a lake, or grabbing a bite to eat. In the Site-Based program, volunteers of all ages—from new students at Grace College to retirees on Winona Lake—meet their Littles at local elementary schools.

Once a week, the Bigs and Littles share lunch, where they might help their Little Brother or Sister learn how to read, play board games, or do arts and crafts together.

In both programs, friendships are formed that can last a lifetime, and Kosciusko County is in need of Bigs right now. The new summer recruitment campaign aims to enroll 500 new volunteers in only 90 days and kicks off June 20. Big Brothers Big Sisters asks local adults to “step up” today—because for Kosciusko County kids, one little step makes an awfully big difference.

To sign up for the program, or to enroll a child, call Big Brothers Big Sisters at (260) 456-1600 or visit www.bbbsnei.org.