The Winona Area Big Brothers Big Sisters are looking for Big Brothers Big Sisters and for participants for their annual fundraiser, Bowl for Kids’ Sake.
A recent update in the Winona area counted 27 boys and eight girls in need of a Big Brother or Big Sister.
Big Brothers and Big Sisters are people 18 years or older, who have access to insured transportation and a love of children. Volunteers are not perfect role models; they are people who want to help children by being a friend. Volunteers are required to commit to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for just one year, although many volunteers choose to stay for longer. Weekly commitments consist of two to three hours and money isn’t required. Volunteers have a case manager who remains in contact making sure meetings go well.
For over 90 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has been a nation-wide youth-serving structure. They offer one-on-one relationships between adult volunteers and “a child at risk.” With over 500 agencies nation wide, over one million children have received a mentor.
According to a recent study done by a national research firm who studied the effects of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Little Brothers and Sisters who met with their Big Brothers or Sisters regularly were 46% less likely to start using drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking; 52% less likely to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class. (The youth not only skipped school less, but also earned slightly higher grades and felt slightly better about how they were doing in school); 1/3 less likely to hit someone; and more trusting of their parents or guardians, less likely to lie to them, and felt more supported and less criticized by their peers and friends.
Big Brothers Big Sisters was brought to Winona in 1996 by a group of local citizens.
The organization is currently looking for at least 60 teams of five people to participate in their annual fundraising event, Bowl for Kids’ Sake. The even takes place April 12 and 13 at Westgate bowl, but participants are asked to sign up and begin collecting pledges as soon as possible.
Bowl for Kids’ Sake is designed as a way for the community to get involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters without actually becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister. The money raised will go to supporting matches, paying for background checks, activities, staff time to match child to adult, and other various expenses encountered throughout the year.
To donate money to Bowl for Kids’ Sake or to sign up a team, visit http://www.bowlforkidswinona.kintera.org.
To contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winona or to volunteer, stop in at their office at 158 Main Street or go to their website: http://www.bbbswinona.org.

Questions or comments?
Contact Jessica at
JLLarsen0487@winona.edu