‘Best thing in the world!’ Little Sister says of her ‘Big’; Big Brothers Big Sisters of C.O. urgently seeking more mentors

(Update: adding video, comments from Big Sister and Little Sister)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon said recently it's urgently seeking caring and dedicated adults to become mentors for the 109 children currently on their waitlist.

Having been around for 30 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters gives Central Oregon children the chance to be paired with a mentor. Mentors have the opportunity to help shape a child's life by offering guidance, support and friendship. 

"The best thing in the world!" Reini, a child in the program, said Tuesday about her Big Sister, Kenzie Carlstrom.

Carlstrom and Reini have been a Big and Little pair for 9 months.

Carlstrom said, "Mentorship is less about being like a 'certified mentor' and more about just showing your lifestyle to someone else,"

She has taught Reini how to ski, ice skate, rollerblade  and has taken her river rafting.

"Just showing and sharing those experiences leads to so many more pathways in her brain and opportunities that now are possibilities," Carlstrom said. "Even when it comes to my job, you know, she learns about what I do."

More than 100 kids are on a wait list in Central Oregon, hoping to experience the same connection.   

"It's six hours a month," Carlstrom said. "I think we can all spend time giving back to our community. And you feel so much better as a person when you are volunteering. as much as the reward is for the kid."

The majority on the wait list are boys, according to Carlstrom.

"Guys that are 20s to 50s, apply! I mean it's really not a big commitment, and its so fulfilling," she said.

To be considered, you apply online, and a background check is required before training and orientation. Matches are made through an interview process for kids from ages 8 to 14. 

"Once you start to build that trust, it is amazing how much more comfortable they feel with you, and it grows from there," Carlstrom said. "You become more of their person, where they tell a story to - 'And we did this with Kenzie' or 'we did that with Kenzie.'"  

 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon serves more than 220 kids a year. The goal is to steer kids in the right direction, through the relationship with a mentor. 

"These children are eagerly awaiting the guidance, support, and friendship that a mentor can provide," our 21 Cares for Kids partner said in an August 8 news release, which continues in full below:

For 30 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon has been committed to fostering positive, impactful relationships that have a lasting effect on the lives of young people in our community. Our mission is to ignite potential in every child by connecting them with a mentor who can inspire, support, and encourage their dreams.

However, the growing number of children on our waitlist reflects an increasing demand for mentors. Each of these 109 children has unique interests, dreams, and challenges, and they are all in need of someone to help guide them towards a brighter future.

“We believe that every child deserves someone who believes in them and stands by their side,” said Jenn Davis, Program Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon. “Our waitlist represents not just numbers, but individual children who are looking for that caring adult. We urge members of our community to step up and help change a life by becoming a mentor.”

Why Become a Big?
-Make a Difference: Mentoring has shown to improve academic performance, self-esteem, and social skills in children.
-Flexible Commitment: We offer flexible mentoring opportunities that can fit into any schedule.
-Supportive Community: The BBBS team provides ongoing support and resources to ensure both Bigs and Littles have a positive rewarding experience.

How to Get Involved
-Apply: Visit our website at www.bbbsco.org to fill out an application.
-Training: Complete an orientation and training sessions to prepare for your mentor journey.
-Match:  Get matched with a Little who shares your interests and start making a difference.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon

A program of J Bar J Youth Services, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon was founded in 1994. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. BBBSCO serves over 220 youth annually and continues to grow programming. We are committed to serving at-risk youth and youth facing adversity with mentors in our community.