Big Brother Program

Growing up, we all had somebody we enjoyed spending time with - somebody who helped us grow, help...  More »

Growing up, we all had somebody we enjoyed spending time with - somebody who helped us grow, helped us to stay on track, helped us slowly become the people we are today. Big Brother/Big Sister of Bismarck-Mandan is matching mentors with youth across our area and is looking for a few good people to help out. Jason Torreano has the details. Local resident Dave Kary asks: How can you be too busy for a child? Everyone knows somebody who has changed their life-forever; somebody who has stepped up, somebody who has walked into your life when you most needed it. Most of our kids are more likely to go to school and to not use drugs, says Mandel Ray Robinson Jr., The Director of Partnership Development for Big Brothers/Sisters of BisMan. Dave Kary and Gunner have been brothers for more than five years. What do they do? We Golf a lot, said little brother Gunner. Usually we try and get out every Wednesday and usually play Basketball at his house because he's got a big garage where you can play basketball. In Bismarck, there are nearly 100 bigs and littles currently matched. Why become a mentor? Kary kept it simple. Everybody's job is to do a better thing, make the world better, Kary said Wednesday. Leave it a better place. Even with people like Kary, the need continues. Across the nation and here in our area there is a shortage of mentorswith male mentors in particular. You see an impact when you actually show up and actually be accountable and be somebody you can look up to, Mandel said. In our region alone, there are 39 children waiting for bigs21 of them boys like Gunner. And when the weather turns cold - what to do? We usually try and go sledding a couple times and then all the winter sports and stuff like that, said little brother Gunner. Kary says the program isn't just good for Gunner, or for himself, or for his family, but for society as well. I can't say it enough, Kary said. It's a win/win for the community. One hour a week-two lives forever changed. Now if you'd like any more information on becoming a big brother or a big sister, log onto their website: www.b-b-b-s.org and click on volunteering. Or, give the local chapter a call: 222-0797.  « Less