2019 Mini Grant Recipient.
The focus of Big Bunch is to provide positive group outings for children who are facing adversity. Big Bunch allows us to provide service to children who are waiting to be matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister. It also allows us to provide a free outing for children that are already matched with their Big Brother or Sister.
Big Bunch offers monthly events and is an extension of our mentoring program. The group fosters social connection and supports mental health through activities such as ice fishing, canoeing, hikes and scavenger hunts, farm visits, and even cross country skiing. As much as possible our program gets kids outside being active, and we provide a nutritious meal.
During Big Bunch events, volunteers meet each other and get to know our staff, helping them to feel a greater connection to our agency and to each other. This relationship, in turn, helps make the mentoring match, between the volunteer and child, the most impactful and long lasting.
One of our Big Bunch mentors is Martina. She is matched as a Big Sister with an 11 year-old girl who lives with her grandmother. Financial constraints have limited the experiences the Little Sister has had. As a Big Sister, Martina has been able to take her Little Sister to community events, such as the Blues & Jazz Festival and the Santa Claus Parade. They have also participated in fun activities like bike rides around Island Lake or day trips into Toronto. Martina has recently begun teaching her Little Sister how to cook and bake. Each month they also like to take part in the Big Bunch program put on by Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Research shows that children like Martina’s Little Sister are much more likely to go on to post-secondary education, be employed, to volunteer as adults and to donate to charity.
Nancy Stallmach & Martina Rowley
Big Brothers Big Sisters Dufferin Website
Cheque Presentation Photo : Danielle Jenkins, Domestic Divas Cleaning Co, mini-grant sponsor; Martina Rowley, a Big Sister; and Nancy Stallmach, BBSS executive director.
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Mini Grant Sponsor
Danielle is already a Dufferin philanthropist, a hard-working entrepreneur, and an inspiration and mentor to young people. She is sponsored this mini-grant because she is passionate about helping develop a positive future for youth. Visit on Facebook
