Big Brothers and Sisters help young kids thrive

As part of National Mentoring Month, chapters of Big Brothers/Big Sisters across Iowa are holding events in the coming weeks to recruit new volunteers. Amy Geigley , a spokeswoman for the group, says the commitment is small while the rewards are huge. Bigs and littles get together for two hours, two times a month, at minimum, and they’re given all sorts of free tickets and activities by the chapter. Geigley says the “bigs” can provide positive role models for kids who need them. Geigley says research finds the program plays a powerful role in reducing drug abuse and youth violence while greatly enhancing a young person’s prospects for leading a healthy, productive life.She says the little brothers and little sisters range in age from six to the mid-teens.Big Brothers/Big Sisters has chapters across Iowa, including in: Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, Dubuque, Iowa City, Keokuk, Muscatine, Sioux City, Marshalltown, Ottumwa and Waterloo. For more information, surf to “www.bbbsa.org”.