Did you know that the volunteers involved in our flagship program, Big Brother or Community (one-on-one mentorship) simply dedicate 2-4 hours a week, which amounts to anywhere between 108-216 hours of quality time within a year with a local child or youth? A small act really can amount to a big impact.
Meet Dan, at this time of writing (March 2020), he’s been involved in our Big Brother program for over 14 months, stating that “it seems like a no-brainer to get involved – developing a relationship with a child while also giving back to the community is a win-win; it’s like having your cake and eating it too”
One of the reasons that Dan wanted to get involved with our program is that he noticed a behavioural trend with those that he looks up to, specifically the ones who work hard at what they do, but also make time to give back to the community, and that’s something he wanted to emulate.
At Big Brothers, we’re incredibly fortunate to be able to interview individuals who are stepping up and committing to our programs, and something that rings true with many of the men who we speak to is just how accessible these programs are.
One of the best memories that Dan has with his Little Brother is when they were able to meet Vancouver Canuck hockey players after a game that they were gifted tickets to from our charity. Dan went on to mention that his go-to activities that when he sees his Little Brother are playing sports like basketball, soccer, hockey, but also simply getting bubble tea or sushi. Some of these simple outings would often times yield some of the most spontaneous, inside jokes or memories that Dan cherishes the most.
For example, Dan admits that he’s notorious for quickly drinking his bubble tea when he’s with his Little, until recently his Little Buddy dropped a “wisdom bomb on him” by saying “you have to savour it! How are you going to be able to savour your life?!” Dan also agrees that this program offers just as much benefit to him, as it does to his Little Buddy, and that after he returns home, he “has a glow that he carries with him.”
Towards the end of the interview, Dan shared a little bit about his motivation for getting involved with our agency, mentioning that he didn’t have many positive adult role models growing up, and wanted to provide that opportunity for someone else. Also confessing, “the 2-4 hours I commit to this program is genuinely do-able; you’re awake for 16 hours a day, and I’m happy I’ve built this into my life. If you knew that (volunteering) would make the rest of your week better, would you not do it? It’s not a time-drain; it’s a mental-boost!”
If Dan’s story has inspired you to learn more about the journey of becoming a Big Brother, learn more from our volunteer page here: https://www.bigbrothersvancouver.com/get-involved/volunteer/
The application process takes about 20-25 minutes, and we can promise that becoming a Big Brother is more accessible, and rewarding than you can imagine.