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Phile Spiller introduced Nicole Avery, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine as our speaker on January 22, 2019. BBBS moved their offices to the former St Mary’s parish hall on Main St Westbrook where they held a ribbon cutting in April 2018. Nicole joined the organization about 4 months ago. She grew up in Bridgton and has long experience in the non-profit sector.
BBBS serves kids up to age 18. Their goal is to make sure that kids have the skills to make good decisions throughout their life. “Bigs” provide mentorship to their “Littles”. This can include working on basic skills like shaking hands or doing laundry. Kids working with a mentor is 52% less likely to skip school and 46% less likely to use drugs.
Nicole Avery of Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Southern Maine
There is a huge need for male Bigs who can be high school kids to adults of all ages. BBBS has a vigorous vetting process – background checks, references, driving record check – as well as training, and they work hard to make compatible matches. The commitment “ask” from a Big is one year, but the average match lasts for 3 years. Matches are usually same sex, but can cross as need requires and if the Big, the Little and their parents agree.
Bigs and Littles usually meet once or twice a month. These meetings can be community based or site based. Community meet-ups can happen anywhere in the community of interest to both parties. Site based meetings take place at a specific location, like at a school for an after-school program. It costs about $1300 to support a match for a year. The funds to support the program come from several sources – fundraisers, corporate partners, grants, United Way, and individual donors.
Nicole would like to double the number of matches this year to 400. If you are interested or know someone who might be, visit their website somebigs.org, call 207-773-5437, or drop by their offices at 625 Main St Westbrook. Volunteers go through training and orientation with a focus on safety and providing resources to help create a successful match.
Phil Spiller looks on as Nicole Avery signs
a book for the Baxter Library