Site-Based Mentoring
TYPICAL ACTIVITIES
- Have lunch
- Read books
- Play on the playground
- Just hang out & talk
VOLUNTEER ELIGIBILITY
- Commit to weekly lunch meetings at
the Little’s school - Accepted as a BBBS Big
YOUTH ELIGIBILITY
- Elementary-aged youth
- Enrolled at a participating school
- Accepted as a BBBS Little
- Youth can also be referred by their school

School Buddies
The best place to help a child realize his/her potential is at school. Kids enjoy having their Bigs meet with them there, whether it’s in the classroom or on the playground. Whether you play board games or read the newspaper together, your relationship promotes a positive school experience for the child: good attendance, positive peer and adult relationships, a positive attitude and academic enrichment.
Whether it’s reading a book, eating lunch, or shooting hoops, School Buddies is really about starting a friendship, providing guidance, and inspiring children to reach their full potential.
Volunteers and children meet once a week during the child’s 45 minute lunch break, utilizing resources available within the school: computer labs, the library, the gym, a classroom, or the playground.

Real Men Read
The Real Men Read program matches male volunteers with an elementary school of their choosing. Four to five times throughout the school year, these men read to a second or third grade class
Why be a Real Men Read Volunteer?
- Through 3rd grade, students are learning to read; after 3rd grade, students are reading to learn.
- In Allen County, more than 1,000 third graders do not pass the literacy portion of ISTEP and experts estimate that 74% of these children never catch up.
- Less than half of low income boys in Allen County are passing 3rd grade reading compared to 61% of low income girls
- Boys will see men model the importance of reading and all students will see positive role models
- Students listen to a fluent reader and follow along, improving their own reading skills
- Each student receives books to build their own home library
For more information call (260) 456-1600

Learning Pods
A We know that Covid-19 is taxing on families working every day while taking on the added responsibility of being a teacher too. We want to help change that. We're excited to offer you the opportunity to bring your child to the facility to receive help with their e-learning at NO COST TO YOU. We're calling this 100% FREE program "Learning Pods." For more info, email Jaren Harmon at [email protected]

First Mentors
First Mentors is a program focused on introducing high school students to volunteering and mentoring while also engaging our Littles waiting for Big. First Mentors is a bi-weekly after school activity that matches high school students with elementary-aged Littles.

One-time Volunteer Opportunities
BBBSNEI now offers one-time volunteer opportunities! Some of these opportunities are being a driver for our Littles, chaperoning First Friends activities, volunteering at our special events, AND MORE.

“My Little Brother Tristen and I have had some fun times, drag-out basketball and football games, reading battles, and stellar school lunches.”
-Big Brother Jason
“My Big Sister Carla is like a friend & sister. She does
everything with me and I'm grateful for her."
-Little Sister Nevaeh
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
If your child's school is not on the list or if you are a guidance counselor, teacher, or administrator and would like to begin this program at your school: please contact us.
Allen County
Arcola
Brentwood
Fairfield
Franke Park
Forest Park
Haley
Harrison Hill
Holland
Huntertown
Levan Scott
Lindley
Lincoln
Maplewood
Nebraska
New Haven Intermediate
New Haven Primary
Allen County, cont.
Northcrest
Price
Prince Chapman
Shambaugh
South Wayne
Southwick Elementary
Study
Washington
Waynedale
Adams County
Northwest
Adams Central
Branch County (MI)
Max Larsen
Jefferson
Dekalb County
Butler (K-6)
Country Meadow
JR Watson
McKenney Harrison
JE Ober (K-4)
Waterloo
Hillsdale County (MI)
Bailey
Davis Middle School
Gier
Huntington County
Flint Springs
Lincoln
Roanoke
Kosciusko County
Leesburg
Lincoln
Harrison
Madison
Washington
Milford Pierceton
Syracuse
LaGrange County
Parkside
Whitley County
Coesse
Mary Raber
Noble County
Central Noble
Northside
Rome City
Southside
Wayne Center
West Noble
Steuben County
Angola Middle School
Fremont
Carlin Park
Wells County
Bluffton-Harrison
Southern Wells
