Breakfast covered the small booth table at Sunshine Café. Plates of biscuits and gravy, soft eggs, sausage links, pancakes and syrup, toast and French fries crowded the table on an early Saturday morning.
Ball state senior Starr Garrett unravelled her silverware from the napkin it was wrapped in. Sitting beside her was seventh grader Markai’la Johnson.
“You wanna say grace Markai’la?” Garrett asked after the waitress walked away. Markai’la nodded and they bowed their heads in unison.
Johnson didn’t hesitate as she quickly closed her eyes and started the prayer, “Dear Lord, thank you for this food we are about to eat.”
“Amen,” Garrett said. “Let’s eat, I’m starving.”
Garrett is Johnson’s Big Sister through the program Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware County. Garrett and Johnson have been sisters since May of last year, and it was a quick friendship. They both felt an instant connection and have seen each other every month since May.
Garrett, who had no intention of volunteering when she visited BBBS last year, started seeing Johnson from the suggestion of a program employee.
“I went in there to just learn a little bit about the program, and the woman I met with told me that they had a little that was just like me,” Garrett said. “So I decided to volunteer and they paired me with Markai’la.”
Since then Garrett hasn’t gone a week without at least talking with Johnson on the phone. The duo see each other on average two times a month. Most times they go out to eat and talk about what’s going on in Johnson’s life.
“We always have fun together,” Johnson said. “We eat out a lot, and she helps me with homework and we talk about school and what’s going on at home. I promise, we are basically the same person, I couldn’t have a better big sister.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a mentoring program that matches children in the community with role models that help guide the children through their development.
The program relies on volunteers in the community to step up and mentor the children.
“We have over a hundred volunteers and more than half of them come from Ball State,” BBBS Executive Director Chrystal Pearson said. “They volunteer until they graduate, and even then they still keep in contact with their littles.”
Garrett keeps in touch with Johnson even when she can’t meet with her twice a month. Garrett is consistent, which is important in student volunteers, said Megann Parkison, match support coordinator.
“Markai’la is a sassy pants and Starr does an amazing job with her,” Parkison said. “Even with the little time she spends with her little during the month, she’s making a huge impact in her life.”
Garrett’s passion to help the youth drove her decision to major in elementary education. Her involvement with BBBS is preparing her for her future career, but Garrett doesn’t stop there.
She also works at the Youth Opportunity Center in Muncie.
“I really want to work with at-risk youth, and help out children in that area in the future,” Garrett said. “My work with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Youth Opportunity Center is preparing me for what I will be doing in the future.”
The YOC is an organization that works with the Department of Children Services, the juvenile courts and children having issues. The program tests, assesses, evaluates and refers the children to get what they need, said Carol Ammon, director of customer relations.
“On any given day we have about 200 kids from age six to 17, and our entire staff need patience and have their work cut out for them,” Ammon said.
Garrett started working at YOC last June. After learning about the job from her roommate, she decided to apply.
Garrett works closely with the kids on a daily basis. She works the floor and helps them follow their strict schedule. Sometimes she sits down with them in group time and listens to them talk.
“Just being there is so major,” Garrett said. “It’s hard sometimes, but it’s important to be there and be a support system. I love those kids.”
