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Big Brothers Big Sisters Welcomes New Faces

Couples for Kids and Fifty and Better programs offer new ways to give the gift of friendship.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri is introducing two new ways to become involved in the life of a child. The Couples for Kids and Fifty and Better programs work to create valuable partnerships with those who might not otherwise imagine themselves fitting into the traditional mentoring model. Couples for Kids encourages married couples to enrich their lives by spending time together while giving a child the gift of friendship. The program pairs couples with a child in a unique friendship that can help to broaden the life of a child and provide much needed guidance and support. Couples bring added value in their ability to demonstrate a caring, stable marriage firsthand. This model also provides built-in flexibility by allowing …

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Meet Nick: Our Little Brother in the Spotlight

Little Brother Nick shares his experience in five-year relationship with Big Brother.

Nicholas, an eighth-grader in St. Louis Public Schools, smiles with his whole face as he describes his relationship with his Big Brother, Ben. Nick and Ben have been matched for more than five years now, and it is not hard to see the impact that their friendship has had.  Nick remembers meeting Ben when he was just a third-grader. “I wasn’t nervous,” Nick said. “No, I felt like I knew him right away.” Since that moment, Nick and Ben have gotten to know each another over homework assignments, video games and lots and lots of basketball. Now, five years later, Nick has a friend he knows he can count on to brighten his day. “I always look forward to Thursdays because I know I get to hang out with Ben,” Nick said. “It’s so fun to know he’s …

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Big Brothers Big Sisters Gets Ready for Back to School

A special initiative demonstrates improvements in attendance, behavior and classroom success when children have a mentor.

With temperatures soaring, it is hard to believe that summer is almost winding to an end. But at Big Brothers Big Sisters, we’re gearing up for back-to-school season. In just over three weeks, it will be time for our Littles to set their alarms, pack up their backpacks and head to school.  Back to school has always been a big focus at Big Brothers Big Sisters. Each year, our annual school supply fair helps make sure our Littles are equipped with the tools they need for success in the classroom. In addition, we encourage our Bigs to make reminder calls the night before school starts to ensure that Littles arrive on time for their first day. But our job doesn’t end there. These efforts are a great kick start to the school year, but it is …

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Being a Big Sister Means Being a Kid Again

There are many reasons I volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters. But mostly, I do it just to have fun.

Two weeks ago, over pizza, I asked a simple question, but it was one I hadn’t asked in years. "Do you want to spend the night at my house soon? Would that be cool?" My 11-year-old Little Sister could hardly contain her excitement. Deja's face lit up with a smile, and she clapped her hands. "Yes!" she exclaimed mid-bite. It was all she could talk about as we finished dinner and drove back to her house. Can we swim, she asked. Can we go to the movies? Can we go out to eat? Can we watch a movie at home? Can we play? She was bursting with ideas—so many that I actually had to cut her short and explain that she was only spending one night. We wouldn't be able to do everything on her list. Saturday, Deja and I had a good old-fashioned sleepover …

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Hazelwood Patch Picks

Hazelwood Patch's Ten Ways to Volunteer This Holiday Season

'Tis the season to be giving, and Hazelwood Patch has some ideas on ways you can help.

 Those looking for a way to volunteer this season — or any time of year — have plenty of options in Hazelwood. Whether you're looking to volunteer your time in a food pantry, mentor a local child, donate holiday presents or give blood, the below information can help you find a good cause on which  you'll enjoy spending your time. The St. Louis Area Food Bank needs your help in multiple ways. You can volunteer to work in the repackaging center where volunteers are relied upon to sort, box and re-package food to be distributed to area families, children and seniors. You can also hold a community food drive. They are a critical source of food for the food bank and with a little assistance from the food bank can be done anywhere including the …

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West High School Students Help Room at the Inn

The students delivered gifts and more than $1,200 to 15 local homeless and transitional families for Christmas.

This Christmas will be merry and bright for area homeless families thanks to the staff and students at Hazelwood West High School that donated countless items to Room at the Inn today. "I hope (the families) see that there are people out there who care and want to help the less fortunate," junior Soni Prasad said of the experience. "My group had about nine juniors and we wanted to ensure that each family got all the things they wanted so we set up a plan that was successful." What began in 2005 as a class project for Karl Herman's science room, has now grown into a school-wide event at West High that is providing a Christmas for 15 local families this year with donations including children's bicycles, clothing, toys, personal hygiene items…

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