University Park, Pa. -- A recent state grant is helping Big Brothers Big Sisters to recruit volunteers in the more rural areas of Centre County. With about 80 children on the wait-list to be matched with a big brother or sister, there is a huge demand for volunteers. Many of the children being wait-listed are from the Bellefonte, Bald Eagle, Philipsburg-Osceola and Penns Valley School Districts.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters provides one-to-one mentoring relationships with measurable impact to children and youth throughout Centre County. We are based on the premise that one caring adult can make a significant difference in a child’s life,” said Jodi Morelli, the Program Coordinator for Centre County. Because of the huge demand for volunteers in the outlying areas, faculty and staff are encouraged to volunteer in the areas that they reside.

Big Brothers Big Sisters helps over 400 children a year all over Centre County. These children range from the ages 5 to17 years of age and eighty percent come from single parent families. Also, most of the children have other stressors in their lives that prevent them from living a normal childhood.

Volunteering is a mixture of a small time commitment and a great way to help the community.  For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters or to sign up to volunteer, please call (814) 237-5731.