Big Brothers Big Sisters continuing to foster relationships with community youthDate: 4/12/2021 GREATER SPRINGFIELD – Big Brothers Big Sisters Hampden County is continuing their work to foster connections between local youth and community members despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Executive Director David Beturne said the organization has been offering one-to-one mentoring services since its inception in 1967. The organization, which serves youth from the age of seven to 18, like many others, has been forced to adapt and change the way they serve the community.
Beturne said prior to the pandemic volunteers connected with their mentees in two different ways. The first, he explained, was part of their community-based program where volunteers would go to a child’s house, pick them up and take them into the community. The second, he said, was part of their site-based programming where volunteers would go to sites such as a school, or MassMutual as part of their working relationship with the company, to provide services there.
However, Beturne said Big Brothers Big Sisters was forced to shift their model and accommodate the fostering of virtual relationships as well. “Because of the pandemic we really had to shift to a virtual model for a while, that was connecting people via FaceTime, Zoom, phone, email whatever it may be,” he said.
Once gathering restrictions were somewhat lessened during the summertime, Beturne said they provided volunteers “with some education and guidance about what’s safe and appropriate.” After that, community-based gatherings were left up to the comfort level and discretion of both the mentee’s parent and the mentor.
However, Beturne said those who were involved in the site-based program were still unable to meet in person at this time due to building such as schools and the MassMutual buildings being closed to the public. Those relationships have not stopped though, he said. “Those relationships have continued virtually,” he said, but emphasized that everyone was looking forward to when they could meet in person again.
“Everyone has Zoom and FaceTime, it’s just tiresome. They maintain that in hopes that they’ll be able to see each other in person very soon,” he said.
Beturne said because of their limited resources, limited meetings and having to lay off all of their staff at one point in 2020, the majority of relationships they’ve helped foster between mentors and mentees were established prior to the pandemic. “Because we ask both the volunteer and the child to make a commitment, the majority of the relationships we have currently were established prior to the pandemic,” he said.
However the organization has been able to form a few new relationships throughout the pandemic. “During the height of the pandemic, we were able to make some new relationships. Some have been virtually where people commit to seeing each other via Zoom or FaceTime,” he said. “We have been able to make some relationships where they’re comfortable picking them up and taking them out.”
He said despite the ever present and increasing need for mentorship such as the ones Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County offers, he was proud of the work they’d been able to do during the pandemic. “Since last March, we’ve made almost 50 matches. Considering everything and considering at one point in time we laid off all staff, that’s pretty good,” he said. “It doesn’t meet the need, but we’ve been able to maintain [the matches we have] and make an additional 50 matches.”
Beturne said the “interest and need has not gone away” for the services they offer throughout the pandemic. He said the organization had received calls from parents and schools expressing their concern for a child experiencing loneliness and isolation. He explained that if they have a willing volunteer who is comfortable, they’re able to make the connection and assist the child. “If we have volunteers that are willing to do that, we can. It’s not dried up in terms of interest, some people are just waiting to see with the nicer weather, [and] with the vaccination,” he said.
Additionally, he said despite limited staffing and not going “full force trying to recruit” volunteers, they were “always looking for volunteers” and would “absolutely not turn them away.” He said, “We will walk them through the process and get connected, it just might take a little longer than usual.”
The best way to reach the organization to sign up to volunteer or request services, he said, was to call them directly at 781-4730 or email them at admin@bigbrothers-sisters.org. Additionally, those wanting to volunteer could fill out a form online at https://www.bigbrothers-sisters.org/volunteer/ to begin the process.
He said those interested in volunteering, but who may not feel comfortable meeting their mentee in person yet, were still welcome. “At this point someone might come to us and not feel comfortable yet. That’s not a problem, we’ll still take them through the process and connect them with a youth virtually,” he said. Beturne said while in a few months the pair may feel more comfortable meeting in person, the organization also recognized that some people may prefer a virtual relationship long-term. He said the organization was “prepared to establish those relationships and nurture them as well”
The upside of virtual relationships, he said, was that it “allowed for flexibility.” He said, “People are used to being able to communicate virtually now. If someone is sick, or the weather is bad or away for an extended period of time, you don’t just lose the connection that you may have in the past,” he said.
He emphasized that the organization was “still operational.” He said, “Our doors are open and there is a need, there always was a need, there always will be a need.”
“While we’re happy and proud of what we’ve been able to do, it just scratches the surface. A lot of youth out there need or want a mentor,” he said. “The youth in our program are here because they want to be.”
Additional information on the organization and their services can also be found on their Facebook and Twitter pages.
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