WORLAND – Children are our future, that's the old saying and the saying is true. By becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister people can help children and the future become a better place. Currently the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Wyoming, whose headquarters is at 1313 Big Horn Ave. in Worland, is looking for Big Brothers and Big Sisters for over 20 children in the area.

"I believe that I have nine boy Littles and 12 girl Littles waiting to be matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister in Worland," Big Brothers Big Sisters Program Director for Washakie County, Hot Springs County and Big Horn County Jennifer Wetherbee stated.

According to the Big Brothers Big Sisters website, National research has shown that positive relationships between Littles and their Bigs have a direct and measurable impact on children's lives. By participating in our programs, Little Brothers and Sisters are:

- More confident in their schoolwork performance.

- Able to get along better with their families.

- 46 percent less likely to begin using illegal drugs.

- 27 percent less likely to begin using alcohol.

- 52 percent less likely to skip school.

Being a Big Brother or Big Sister helps the Little, the Little's family and the Big as well by creating a much needed relationship. Wetherbee stated that a lot of times single parents need the extra help. Sometimes it's hard for a single parent of multiple children to be able to give all their children the one-on-one time that children want and need. A Big can be the person that a Little can have that one-on-one time with and get encouragement from. Bigs are positive role models that lead by example. "It just gives them (Littles) another person, someone to hang out with and talk with and share about what's exciting for them at school because they are getting that one-on-one and they (Littles) know that they (Bigs) are listening and not keeping an ear out on what's going on with the other siblings," Wetherbee stated. "Sometimes there are some things that we don't always want to talk to our moms about, or an aunt or somebody else in the family. It's not about being the disciplinarian or being the missing parent. It's about being a trusted friend, someone that you can hang out with. You don't even have to be doing an activity, simply just watching a movie or reading books, being an open ear, someone for the Little to just talk to," she added.

Big Sister Linda Weeks stated, "I think it adds support to the mom. I was a single mother for 15 years, so I know and I only had one child. I could have used some support."

A Big Brother or Big Sister doesn't require spending a lot of money or even a huge amount of time. Weeks spends time with her Little, Samantha by having lunch with her at school or taking her to the park after school. "We try to get together weekly, sometimes we have issues with some sports events and business things but generally it's once a week. The minimum is every other week but we try to do it weekly. If we are meeting after work, we may go to, Sam likes to go to playgrounds. She's always on the lookout for the latest and greatest playground. So we will go to play grounds and she plays and then we usually go grab something to eat. The last time we went to a playground and then we went to McDonald's, got something to eat and then we played games. She brought all her games and we sat in McDonald's and played Hang-man," Weeks stated. "It can be very easy if you are willing to give up an hour of your week," she added.

Wetherbee added, "And school lunches are so easy. I've been having school lunches with my Little Brother for four years. School lunch is good. It's not about spending money and being a cash register. You are not going to do all these things where you are spending money. That's not what it's about. It's just being together for a time, riding bikes. Yesterday my Little Sister and I painted a snowman. We got a Little crazy with the glitter glue but it was really cute when we were done."

Little Sister Samantha stated that her favorite things to do with Weeks are crafts and that she loves Weeks dogs.

Matching Bigs and Littles is a science. Littles and their parents are interviewed. Bigs are interviewed and must have references and pass a background check. "We make sure that the Big that we are recruiting and that is wanting to do it, is a trusted person, not only by us but by the parent. Us doing all of the stuff that we do helps in creating that trust because sending your child with someone you don't know and have only met one time, if you don't know them outside that first introduction, that's a Little freaky for a parent. So we go to great lengths to make sure that the person that we are matching them with is coming from a place of honest, truth, safety and that they are good with kids. We have some Bigs that don't have children of their own, so having kids has nothing to do with it. It's coming from a good place and we do reference checks, background checks and a long intensive interview," Wetherbee stated.

"The Big thing is having good communication with the parent because the parent is part of it. They have to want you to be involved and participate," Weeks said.

Weeks and Samantha were matched because they enjoy many of the same things. "Samantha wants to be a designer when she grows up. So part of what I do when I interview the Little and the Big, is looking for those things that they have in common to make that match. You don't just match a Big with the next available Little, there is a lot that goes into the things that she (Big) says in her interview about her values and how she raises her children and the things that are in her heart to give to another child and to help them with. So when you are interviewing the Little and the mom together, they are talking about the things that mom would love to see her daughter get help with and the things that she wants to do in her life down the road. Samantha and Linda had so much in common and so that's why they are matched. Samantha wanting to be a designer and the animals that they both love, learning, time availability played a part in the match as well," Wetherbee explained.

Sometimes life can get in the way of a match, causing one or the other to move away, but the relationship continues. Wetherbee explained that Bigs remain in the Littles lives, celebrating things like graduation, weddings and significant milestones. How her Little from 2004 is now 21 or 22 and they still keep in touch on social media and messaging. "We use social media, message each other. He mailed me a graduation announcement. He still knows that I am there and it's not like a weekly or a monthly thing, but he will be like hey how are you doing. You still have that relationship that you are building off of and it's awesome."

Anyone interested in making a difference in a child's life by becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister can call 1-800-294-9700 extension 106 or fill out an online application at bbbsnwwy.org

When asked how she felt about having a Big Sister, Samantha gave a big thumbs-up.