BBBS traditional matches cater to busy lives

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By Laurie Weir

EMC News - A traditional match has changed when talking about Big Brothers Big Sisters. Gone are the days of long-time commitments with weekly constraints and trying to find time to juggle a busy family, let alone add an extra child to that mix.

Now there are ways to work around those busy schedules, Jennifer Miller, executive director BBBS of Lanark County, says.

"We had to change our way of thinking," she said. "We still have traditional matches, but we can adapt to any busy-life circumstance. That's why we are able to offer our services to more than 300 children in Lanark County this year, as opposed to just 50 children in 2007."

BBBS of Lanark County has a variety of ways to help little ones who require some care and nurturing outside the family setting. Volunteer 'Bigs' can offer as little time as an hour a week for 10 weeks.

"The programs are evolving," Miller said. "They are catered to whatever is needed. If we didn't evolve then we wouldn't be growing as an organization."

Bigs can volunteer in school, as a couple (as The Perth Courier/EMC outlined over the past two weeks), or traditionally... like Donna-Marie Burnell and her little sister, Kelsey Stiller, who have been paired for more than three years.

"Almost four," says Kelsey. "At first, I didn't want to go with her, but my mom encouraged me... told me to give it a chance."

Kelsey's mom, Christine Kargakos is a single mom of two girls: Kelsey, now nine, and Nikki, 13. She works shift work at a nursing home and isn't always available for her daughters. Kargakos says it's been a blessing to have Burnell in their lives.

"I can't say enough about Donna... she's become part of our family. And Big Brothers Big Sisters has been so helpful. It's a wonderful organization. It's really changed our lives and if I go on about them all I will start to cry," she said over the phone.

Burnell says the match with her little sister has been a wonderful experience.

"I've always liked kids, but don't have any of my own and when my family got together I was always doing stuff with the little ones. It was a way for me to give back to my community and hopefully make a difference," she said.

Burnell says she's seen changes in Kelsey over the years.

"She's really coming into her own and is more confident in her abilities," Burnell said of her little sister.

Kelsey says she's learned a lot from Burnell.

"She's shown me how to take pictures, and I really like that."

Burnell is a local photographer and takes Kelsey on expeditions. For the first time, Kelsey entered four photographs into the Perth Fair. It was an experience, Kelsey said.

"It was fun... but I didn't win anything."

Burnell said it was also a lesson in paperwork.

Cooking, crafts, photography, sewing and just some good-ol' gab sessions are some of the things the big and little sisters have in common.

Kargakos says her daughter looks forward to time spent with her Big Sister. "She gets really excited to see Donna and I'm happy for this match that has been truly blessed."

All three are anticipating the BBBS Bowl for Kids event, happening Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Alley Cats Bowling Lanes in Perth, Gratton Lanes in Smiths Falls, and Vision Lanes in Carleton Place.

"It's a big deal for us," says Kargakos, who tries to book the day off work if it's not already a scheduled day off. "We always get together at our place for snacks before hand and make it a real party."

For three consecutive years, her daughter Nikki has been the top fundraiser for the Littles.

"It's something we look forward to each year and really gear up for it," Kargakos says. "And it's my way to help give something back to an organization that has given me so much. They really are a great organization... one I highly recommend."

ljweir@metroland.com