It’s a chilly December night in 2010, a small boy tosses in his bed, mumbling to himself. Suddenly, his cry breaks the silence with fear, panic and the devastation of abandonment. His mother, startled awake and her heart racing, tears down the hall to comfort her terrified child who has been torn from his slumber by the nightmare. It is a routine that is all too familiar for them; several nights a week they do this terrifying dance. His sudden anxiety comes from his father’s abuse of his mother three years earlier and abandonment of their young family. It has etched a new pattern in their lives. The little boy wrestles with questions far beyond his age. He struggles with guilt – wondering if his father left them because of him? He struggles with blame – if it wasn’t his fault, is it his brother’s fault? His mother’s? He struggles with fear his mother will leave him one day. He struggles with loss – he misses having a father to spend time with. He struggles with jealousy – his friends all have dads. This is how little Ben’s story begins.

Searching for a way to help her son, his mother calls Big Brothers Big Sisters. Yes, Ben could have a Big Brother. She is sent an application and an interview quickly follows. Sally finds little Ben’s frankness impressive, and describes him to be “just like a little man” – a responsibility too much for a boy of just 7 years old. Sally begins the search for a Big Brother for Ben.

Just eight short weeks later (children often wait up to two years for a “Big”), Ben is fortunate to be matched with Jeff, a big brother who is elated to be meeting him. On a blustery day, the two visit the office where Sally introduces them and they make plans for their first get together. Beaming with bottled up excitement, they both leave anticipating Sunday afternoon.

These are the types of life changing momentsyou help make reality when you support Big Brothers Big Sisters. And it’s not just in the moments like this; it’s in the matches, programs and events that take place all year long. Programs that build confidence and self-respect. Programs that help reduce drug and alcohol addiction rates and break cycles of generational poverty. Programs that lead to higher grades, higher literacy rates, higher graduation rates. But without your help, none of this would be possible. We are asking for your support to be able to continue changing the many lives you touched last year with your support.

For young Ben, the change has been remarkable. Ben waits with baited breath for his big brother to come every Sunday. Jeff is as excited to see Ben as Ben is to see Jeff. Since they met, Ben’s learned to skate, play guitar and snowmobile. They have visited the maple syrup festival and gone swimming and boating. But the biggest change is Ben has slept peacefully through the night since January.

We ask you to please click here to start something

Help Ben, and countless children like him in your community, have sweet dreams again.

Thank you for your ongoing support,

Loretta Dunn
Board Chair