Big Buddies Of Western Community Action

Big Buddies is a community-based, one-to-one mentoring program that matches youth ages 5-17 with positive, caring adult volunteers. Big Buddies seeks to nurture personal development in youth through mentoring relationships. In weekly meetings, Big Buddies turn ordinary activities such as cooking, making crafts, music, homework, activities with pets, attending sporting events, going to the library, watching movies, playing in the snow, learning to crochet, or reading books into extraordinary times that enrich positive development and create meaningful friendships.

Description:
Big Buddies has an independently documented success rate of enriching the lives of youth in southwest Minnesota. Carefully screened and properly trained adult mentors are matched with youth providing them support, guidance and inspiration on a weekly basis. Individual mentoring and monthly group activities incorporate Big Buddies" "5 fingers of personal growth" that focus on enhancing self-esteem, respecting others and the environment, appropriate decision making, helping others, and envisioning unlimited opportunities.

History:
Big Buddies began in 1989 when a group of concerned citizens in Marshall wanted to find a way to provide the opportunity of mentoring children in need. They started the Big Buddies program in Marshall, modeled on the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program and asked Western Community Action to take on the mission. Over the years, Big Buddies has grown to encompass the 5 counties served by Western Community Action in southwestern Minnesota

Contact people:

Allan Bakke, Program Director, (phone), (email) Charles Freeman, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email) Amanda Horne, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (507) 537-1849

Address:

400 West Main, Suite 201 Marshall, MN 56258 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.wcainc.org

Directions:

Big Buddies is located in the Western Community Action offices that are on the second floor of the Wells Fargo Bank in downtown Marshall.   Nearest Bus Stop: 4th and Lyon, 1 block minute walk

Last updated on November 16, 2009