Benefits of volunteering emphasized
by Lindsey Armstrong, reporter

    Volunteering benefits the volunteer as much as the community, students on NE Campus learned last week.

   Cherine Murray, director of marketing for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, spoke during a meeting of A Positive Tomorrow, student group.

   “Each of us has been touched by somebody who has inspired us,” she said.

   Students and other people from the community have the chance to be that special person in a child’s life, Murray said.

   The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tarrant County began in 1967 to help match children with caring volunteers who apply, Murray said.

   A thorough screening process and background check ensure each applicant is reliable and safe to be around a child.

   The main qualification, according to Murray, is that the volunteer be willing to devote some time giving support, guidance and friendship.

   Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age and a junior or senior in high school or older to apply.

   All the children are low-need children; volunteers do not need special training. The highest need child has attention deficit disorder, Murray said.

   The organization offers two programs to fit most any schedule. In the community-based program, volunteers visit with their child a minimum of two times a month for one year.

   “Volunteers are not limited to the minimum requirements, additional time is greatly appreciated,” she said.

   The school-based program matches five to eight volunteer mentors from a school or organization with children at a local elementary or middle school.

   The visits last one hour, once a week, for the entire school year, and participants must remain on school property.

   Individuals may also enroll in the school-based program

   The activities do not have to be costly, Murray said.

   “The parents understand that you are not a babysitter, nor a taxi, nor a bank,” she said.

   Murray said most children are lonely and need special one-on-one attention. The children’s ages range from 7-12, and the only thing they have in common is their single-parent homes.

   Rewards come from watching the children grow and understanding that volunteering helped them, Murray said.

   “I love being a big sister. Whatever I give to her, she gives me double in return,” she said.

   Murray also discussed monthly events that are of little or no cost to the volunteer. In addition, the organization also receives ticket donations to various sporting events, theaters and amusement facilities.

   Approximately 500 children in the Tarrant County area are waiting for a match; 75 percent of them are little boys. More men are needed as mentors, Murray said.

   “Big Brothers Big Sisters gives the ordinary person a chance to bring a little magic into a child’s life and give them somebody to look up to as a mentor and as a friend,” she said.

   For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters, call 817-877-4277 or visit www.bbbs-tc.org.

   APT is also sponsoring a canned food drive to benefit the North Richland Hills Community Outreach.

   Anyone wishing to donate can put four items in a bag with a name, address and phone number inside and be entered to win prizes. Canned items can be taken to ACB 101 on NE Campus.