BBBS Gears Up For Adopt A Family

Photo:  (L to R) Tammy Young, Executive Director BBBS; Joanne Schneider, Mid-States Aluminum

(Fond du Lac)-Are you looking to make a difference in the life of a child this holiday season?  Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) needs your help!  “Our goal is to help 100 families this year.” Said Tammy Young, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters.  “We are looking for as many businesses, families, clubs or organizations we can find to give the gift of Christmas to a family in need.”

The holidays are a magical time for children.  For children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, most who are living at or below poverty level, Christmas isn’t always magical.  That is, UNLESS you are ‘adopted’ by a generous family, business, 4H Club, church group, school, or even a group of friends.  “With the help of the Fond du Lac Community, BBBS was able to help 77 families in 2015 (up from 65 families in 2014 and 34 families in 2013),” said Young.  “Fond du Lac stepped up in a big way last year and we are looking to build on that success in 2016.”

“There is no shortage of people in need,” said Jennifer Smith, Senior Match Support Specialist at BBBS and the staff person responsible for spearheading this initiative.  “Anyone interested in adopting a family can select the size of the adopted family.  We have small, medium and large families who are at risk of not having anything under the tree this holiday season.”

Anyone interested in helping is asked to call the BBBS office at 922-8200.  To avoid a duplication of services, only those families in need who are not adopted through the Salvation Army, Department of Social Services or another area human service organization are eligible to participate. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fond du Lac County is a United Way Agency that assists children with social, emotional and character development through one-to-one mentoring relationships with caring adults.  The agency matches children with a Big Brother, Big Sister, Big Couple or Big Family in a community or school based program.  Children aged 6 through 13 can enroll in the program through parent or guardian referral.  Volunteers need to be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license for the community based program, 16 years old for the school based program.  For more information about the program or to volunteer, call 920-922-8200 or visit www.bbbsfdl.org.