Enroll a Child
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lowell’s traditional mentoring program matches children in the community with a caring, carefully screened volunteer who will spend one-on-one time with the child. The idea is that this volunteer can be another positive adult in the child’s life, someone to be a friend, a role model, another caring, trusting adult to take an interest. New volunteers make a commitment to see the child once a week, for a few hours a week for at least the duration of a year. Most matches in our office exceed the year time commitment and many children find a lifelong friend in their “Big”.
The agency serves children ages 7-14 from the towns of Ashby, Ayer, Billerica, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Littleton, Lowell, Pelham, Pepperell, Shirley, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsboro and Westford. We take referrals from parents, guardians, social workers, teachers, counselors. About 80% of the children served come from single parent homes. This is a popular service that is provided to the family at no charge. Due to the overwhelming demand for children to receive a “Big,” there is a waiting list. All children on the waiting list must want a Big.
In order to ensure quality matches, we match a child with a volunteer that may share a common interest or a volunteer that can match the need of the particular child. There is no way to determine how long a child will wait for a volunteer, and though it is our goal to match all waiting list children in our program, there are some times when the resources just may not be available. In recent years, we have tried to increase recruitment efforts for quality volunteers and have had much success in doing so.
Please contact the office to receive an application (978-453-9339 or contact@bbbslowell.org Once the office receives the application, a staff member would be in contact to arrange a time to interview both the parent/ guardian and the child. We may ask for permission to get input from counselors, teachers or other professionals working with the family or child. If a child is seeing an absent parent on a regular basis, we will need a permission slip signed from the absent parent. If this is an appropriate program for the child, the child would be placed on the waiting list. When the right volunteer comes through, the office would be in contact to give the parent/ guardian background information about the volunteer. If the parent/ guardian is in agreement, a meeting would be established so that the parent/ guardian can meet the volunteer. If everyone is in agreement, we would formally introduce the child to the volunteer.
For more information please call (978) 453-9339.