Got a pith helmet you're aching to wear? Dust it off and break out the khakis. On Saturday, Sept. 20, the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization is sponsoring a Safari Moon Social at the Rhino Grille, 155 E. 6100 South in Murray.
While this fund-raising event promises to bring high adventure (please see box), the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization knows that for many children it really is a "jungle out there."Single parents often struggle to provide the basic necessities, let alone the companionship and recreation children crave. Just what difference can it make when a "big brother" or "big sister" comes into the life of a child who is missing a parent?
Cindy Wilkins, BB/BS executive director, points to a national study of 960 youngsters, half of whom were matched in the Big Broth-er/Big Sister program. The matched children saw their big brother or big sister an average of three times a month. After 18 months, the study showed that the little brothers and sisters were:
- Forty-six percent less likely to begin using illegal drugs. Minority boys and girls were the most strongly influenced: They were 70 percent less likely than their peers to initiate drug use.
- Twenty-seven percent were less likely to begin using alcohol.
- Fifty-three percent were less likely to skip school, and 37 percent were less likely to skip a class.
- Children were more confident of their performance in school-work.
- Thirty-three percent were less likely to hit someone.
- Children got along better with their families.
Peter Hyde has been a big brother for about six months to 9-year-old Schad. "It's going really great," Hyde said in a telephone interview. "He's a lot of fun." Hyde said he appreciates working with Schad's mother, who is always quick to ask if Schad needs money for a movie or dinner so that the friendship is not a financial burden. "She really wants a positive role model in his life," Hyde said.
Hyde has been in Utah less than a year and has a special reason for becoming a big brother. "I was a little brother myself. I'm still friends with my big brother and still talk to him. I'm not perfect, but I know the difference between right and wrong because of the way I was raised.
"Twenty years ago, divorce wasn't as common as it is today. There was a father-and-son night once a month at my school and when I took my mother, well, kids can be cruel," Hyde said. His mother contacted Big Brothers/
Big Sisters and introduced Hyde to his new big brother, Bob.
"He took me to my first Buffalo Bills football game and introduced me to sports. It was definitely good for me so I'm trying to introduce those things to Schad," Hyde said.
Hyde takes Schad on bike rides, plays catch with him and takes him to movies and dinner. "I have a girlfriend who's divorced, and her son Matt and Schad are the same age. So we've done things together like going to a sports park and go-cart races," he said.
Wilkins is pleased that 270 children have been matched with a big brother or big sister. "We ask for a one-year commitment of seeing the child once a week for three to five hours. But that's flexible. What's really important is the relationship," she said.
In the Kearns and West Valley areas, Wilkins says, there is no shortage of children who need a big brother or sister. Volunteers are also needed for children at Jackson Elementary School. "We have 20 children matched now and 10 more waiting. It takes 30 days for background checks and orientation sessions," she said.
While volunteers are only required to make a one-year commitment, the average length of service has been 29 months. "The Big Brothers and Big Sisters are finding it is an endearing project for them, too," Wilkins said.