| | | | | | | | December 2021 Hello Friends, It is hard to believe that we are quickly approaching the end of the year! We recognize that it is a busy season for many and we'd like to take the time to thank our volunteer Bigs, staff, board members, and families who give so much of their time to support the youth that we serve. We are so grateful for the dedication of so many to our mission. This December, we are also thrilled to be empowering Littles through our #LiftUpLittles campaign. An anonymous donor generously donated a $40,000 matching gift to support our efforts in this campaign. We now are calling to our supporters to raise another $40,000 to reach our goal of meeting the match. We invite you to learn more about the #LiftUpLittles campaign by visiting www.bbbscm.org/liftuplittles. Sincerely,
The Team at Big Brothers Big Sisters | |  | | | | | | | Muster your holiday cheer, find that festive sweater hiding in the back of the closet, and maybe even fold a paper snowflake or two, because BBBS pulled out all the stops for this year’s Holiday Party! The gloomy morning weather was no match for the bright lights and joyous energy emanating from the Crossroads Community Church in Framingham, where BBBS held its annual end-of-year celebration for the matches in our community program. Upon arrival, Bigs and Littles were sent along a circular pathway around the room that would allow them to visit every station that had been set up along the way. First, they would sign in and be greeted by BBBS’ very own elf, who had the distinct honor of being able to show the Littles the dozens of brand-new bikes lined up against the wall. These bikes were graciously donated to BBBS through FedEx and were a huge hit, as every Little who attended could choose one that they wanted to take home for themselves! After selecting the perfect ride, each match moved to the next station, where Littles would be given a goodie bag full of treats, arts & crafts materials, and small science experiments that they could explore at home or later on with their Big. Next, they went onto the main stage, where each match could have photos of them taken, printed, laminated, and turned into a sparkly ornament to hang up on their Christmas tree or around the house. After smiling and posing, matches went on to the main event: gift shopping for their families! Multiple tables were piled high with games, toys, books, and clothes (including an amazing assortment of hand-knit hats and gloves!). Littles were able to pick and choose gifts for their parents and siblings, as well as wrap them up in an assortment of colorful wrapping papers at the final station. Armed with their gifts and bike, Littles left the party beaming. Amidst the laughter, excitement, and the steady beat of Mariah Carey’s holiday hits from the speakers, one theme was central: finding joy and connection, in-person, after a long and difficult year. A huge thank-you to all those who attended for helping make the event a fun, covid-safe success! | | | | | | | | | | Big, Kiersten, and Little, Megan are two members of our GEM (Girls E-STEAM Mentoring) program who recently found a fun, and sustainable, way to find new reading material. After Megan mentioned running out of good books to read during a match meeting, Kiersten had an idea! Kiersten searched around her home and was able to put together a collection of her favorite childhood books and stories, which she then put together in a surprise package to send to Megan. This was a super fun activity for the both of them and has given them plenty to discuss during their weekly match meetings.
Kiersten and Megan recommend other matches give this a try. Bigs get the nostalgia of reliving their favorite childhood stories, while Littles get new reading material that they may normally not have access to. Book sharing is also a great way to help our environment. We can share books through different ways such as sharing between matches or friends or family or using libraries. Next time you have the chance, take a look around to see if you have any old books lying around. You might be surprised at what you find! Great idea, Kiersten and Megan! | | | | | |  | The Mazie Mentoring Program is wrapping up a great Fall semester. New matches met in November and are now enjoying getting to know each other. The Mazie team will be continue making new matches in the new year! If you're interested in learning more about the Mazie Mentoring Program, please email mazie@bbbscm.org. | | About the Mazie Mentoring Program The Mazie Mentoring Program matches at-risk high school students in Framingham, Waltham, and Marlborough with dedicated adult mentors for their Sophomore through Senior years of high school. Its objective is to provide young people with the support to help them achieve their goals and succeed. Since its foundation in 1998, the program has served 1,000 students. Created to honor the legacy of John Andrew Mazie, the program is in its 22nd year of operation. Since 2017, the program has been operated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & MetroWest. | | | | | | | | Stand With Us Today to Defend Potential When children and teens have the influence of a caring adult, they are more likely to avoid risky behaviors and to focus on academics. Today's youth face a variety of challenges, and being matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister can help them navigate these challenges and reach their potential. | | | | | | | | | | | |
