Related Web sites

Most of the service projects I have talked about have related Web sites. I included a link to the St. Bernard Project and this is definitely one that is worth visiting if you are interested in going to New Orleans to help rebuild. Liz McCartney, the founder of the St. Bernard Project, recently won the CNN Hero of the Year award for all the work she has done to help rebuild. There are stories about all the families they have helped, newspaper articles that have mentioned the project and much more.

Liz McCartney and our group from Winter 08

The St. Bernard Project works to get families who are especially in need back into their homes. This usually includes elderly homeowners and single parents. Visit this site if you are willing to donate time or money to this nonprofit organization.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Athens also has a website that contains information about volunteering and fundraisers that are being put on to benefit BBBS. This site is http://www.bbbsathens.org/.

ATCO has a website about the different programs they host for employing adults with disabilities and how you can get involved. It also lists the phone number and office hours if you are interested in contacting them. http://atcoinc.org/

Big Brothers/Big Sisters

Big Brothers/Big Sisters in Athens is an awesome opportunity to learn more about the area and come face to face with the struggles that people face everyday through the eyes of a child. This pure look at life can be intense at times, but, more than anything, it makes you glad to be a positive force in the community.

To start off with BBBS, paperwork is filled out and an interview is conducted. The paperwork includes a background check and your records after getting fingerprinted at the police station. The interview is an important tool used to match you up with a little that you can mentor and share interests with.

The last step before meeting your little is a training course that details the role you are going to take in this child's life. It includes information about what you should do if a child reveals that their home or caretakers are unsuitable or abusive in anyway and what appropriate conversations are like with a young child. They also explain how important you will be in the life of this child and how devastating it could be if you abandon your visits after developing a relationship with your little.

Littles are usually children who need extra help in school or do not get enough attention at home or are considered at-risk youth. My little falls in the second category. She lives with her aunt and uncle, cousins and siblings and tends to have trouble feeling heard at home. I visit her once a week during her lunch break at West Elementary and have been her big since the beginning of my sophomore year. Another program option is arranging activities with your little outside of school hours. Bigs have the opportunity to take their little to the movies, ice skating or any number of events. You get to choose based on your availability and how comfortable you feel.


There are SO many children who wish to have a Big just at West Elementary. If you think you could give the time, definitely take it into consideration. For one hour a week, you can really make a big difference.

If you are interested in becoming a Big or learning more about the program, contact Tara Gilts at taragilts@gmail.com.