Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orillia and District (BBBS) held an appreciation event for volunteers Saturday at Tudhope Park.

The Big Barbecue event focused on celebrating volunteers, donors and partners as part of Big Brothers Big Sisters Month.

Haleigh Payne, the local agency’s fundraising and community development co-ordinator, notes BBBS is completely community funded and supported.

“We rely on the community. That’s why it’s important for us to give appreciation,” she said.

Payne says volunteers are the heart of the organization and they do some of the most important work in the community for youth.

“For everyone, mentorship means something different,” she said. “Mentorship really equals resilience in children.”

BBBS serves about 300 children in the area with around 100 volunteers. There are currently 70 children on a wait list.

“Volunteering gives you the reward of giving back to the community,” said executive director Miranda Chaffey. “We try to build the sense of community within the organization through events like this.”

“For a lot of people, mentoring is a way for people to be the mentor they needed when they were young,” she said.

David Ward, who has been volunteering with BBBS for a month, has been matched with 11-year-old Declan Parker. They spent Saturday afternoon flying a remote-controlled plane at Tudhope Park.

“It’s been a wonderful experience getting to know Declan,” Ward said. “This is something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time.”

He says it’s important for youth to have BBBS role models, even if they already have other mentors in life.

“There are a lot of role models in the community, from teachers to community agencies,” he said. “This is a different kind of relationship that is based more on friendship and mentorship.”

Ward and Parker have developed a meaningful relationship through BBBS, he said.

“It feels like a more diverse experience than other roles I’ve had in my life in terms of mentorship,” Ward said.

The two go for walks and eat dinner together. Next week, they will go to the Orillia Museum of Art and History.

“Neither of us have ever been,” Ward said. “For us, it’s about trying new things that we haven’t ever done before.”

Parker says having Ward in his life has been a positive experience.

“He’s nice and fun,” he said. “I can actually go out and play with him. It gets me out of the house and away from my phone or Xbox.”

More information about BBBS can be found here.

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