Big Brothers Big Sisters Dufferin and District: A Legacy of Mentoring Youth and Community Support | Written By: Lindsay W.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a nationwide organization that matches children and youth with adult mentors in various programs. The Dufferin and District office provides these programs throughout Dufferin County, creating a supportive and nurturing environment for local youth.
The core program Big Brother Big Sisters offers matches a child with an adult mentor, who spends a few hours with them each week or every two weeks. The children participating are between 6-18 years old and facing adversity in different ways. “Having an extra caring adult to help guide the child can be very beneficial,” says Nancy Stallmach, Executive Director of the Dufferin and District office for the past 20 years. During their time together, they often do community activities related to their interests, including riding bikes, hiking or attending the child’s extracurricular activities.
In addition to this, they offer In-School mentoring, pairing volunteers with children selected by staff “because “they feel that child needs more one-on-one attention,” says Nancy. The volunteer brings to the school crafts and activities they can do together, providing valuable time and support for the child. They also run group programs like Go Girls, Game On, and their monthly program Big Bunch, which promote active living through various activities.
“The main part is for the child to know there is another in their life that has their back.”
The primary role of volunteers is to be a friend and a caring presence in the child’s life. “The only real requirement for volunteers is that they enjoy spending time with children, and want to help support them,” Nancy says. These mentors help and guide the children with decision making, sometimes challenging them to step out of their comfort zone.
As a non-profit, Big Brothers Big Sisters relies on community fundraisers and donations to keep their programs running. Each year, the Golf for Kid’s Sake tournament, hosted at Shelburne Golf and Country Club, invites community members for a fun day of golf, games, and prizes. The registration fee includes a donation to the agency, along with a silent auction and lunch. “This tournament allows us to fund enough money for our agency over the year,” Nancy explains. Other fundraisers they organize include fall mail campaigns and an online auction before Christmas.
Local businesses in Dufferin County sometimes contribute part of their proceeds from their own fundraisers to Big Brothers Big Sisters. “Yogariffic in Mono, had a clothing sale where they gave part of the proceeds from that,” Nancy mentions. “Here in Dufferin County, we are very supported by the community and have been able to keep going for over 50 years,” Nancy adds.
“It really helps kids who have been struggling with adversity to make good choices in life”
Operating in the community for 50 years means there have been thousands of children and volunteers who have participated in this program. “It’s not unusual to have an older person come up to me and tell me they had a big brother or sister growing up,” Nancy says. “For decades, there has been a positive impact.” Through being a positive outlet in these children’s lives, Nancy emphasizes, “Our goals are to make as many matches as possible that are the most impactful.”