Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware County is a local organization designed to help children in the community find mentors. There's just one problem: the group doesn't have enough mentors.
The organization has 30 little brothers waiting for mentors, said Brandon Coppernoll, Web solutions architect for University Marketing and Communications.
The lack of big brothers in Muncie inspired Coppernoll and his friend B.J. McKay to start a leadership board during the summer.
McKay, now president of the leadership board, was a big brother for seven years until he moved away after his little brother turned 18. When he came back, he joined BBBS again and has a new little brother.
After volunteering again, McKay said he realized how many children there are who don't have a mentor.
"We feel strongly about it because it really does help shape kids that need structure in their lives," Coppernoll said.
The leadership board was created to help solve problems in the community, and plans to tackle the issue, among others, through what they call Project 30.
The leadership board will have an open house today from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Big Brothers Big Sisters office on 220 N. Walnut Street. Males and females are welcome to come to brainstorm ideas about how to find more male mentors.
People interested in joining can also go to leadershipboard.org or can attend one of the leadership board's monthly Think Tank sessions in which they focus on one problem and come up with possible solutions.
Right now there are 10 members of the leadership board, Kayla Stanton, Student Government Association president, said. She wants SGA to help the leadership board because she feels they are working for an important cause.
"They use a lot of people for the skills they have rather than just a specific job description," Stanton said.
The leadership board will face other community issues after it solves the issue of kids not having enough mentors.
"Since we just formed, we haven't tackled any other problems," Coppernoll said. "We are still in the initial stages. We wanted to harness our focus on Project 30."
Coppernoll wants people to know that there is not much work involved with BBBS. It is more about having fun.
The commitment is an hour a week, or four hours a month, whichever way the mentor wants to divide it. Students only have to meet once during the summer to make it more convenient for those who don't live near Muncie.
Coppernoll said many people start at the minimum hours and have so much fun that they add more time.
"It's only a four hour commitment," Coppernoll said. "It's as simple as just being there for a child and just being their friend, just like any other friends you have."
Coppernoll said being a mentor for BBBS or joining the leadership board is a great way to get volunteer hours and build a resume.
Other benefits to joining the leadership board are networking possibilities, having fun and the ability to make the experience beneficial to the member, Coppernoll said.
To join Big Brothers Big Sisters, go to bbbsmuncie.org or contact Chrystal Pearson, who is in charge of enrollment for BBBS.
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