Q. What is the time commitment for being a Big?

A.  Bigs are asked to commit to a minimum of nine months.

Q. I am a student and will not be in State College during the summer.
  Does this prevent me from becoming a “Big”?

A. No, we welcome your participation. We recognize that many of our student volunteers are not in town during the summer; instead of in-person visits, we request that student volunteers maintain the relationship throughout these months with regular letters or phone calls. Staying connected in this way makes an easy transition back to the fall, as there is little interruption of communication.

Q. If I don’t have a car can I still be a Big Brother/Big Sister?

A. Yes, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre County has site-based mentoring programs in State College, Bellefonte, Port Matilda, and Penns Valley that offer car-pooling to volunteers without cars. However, you must be able to mentor for an entire school year (September – May).

Q. How much time do Bigs spend with their Littles each week?

A. Bigs spend one or two hours with their Little each week. That time can be spent doing anything from taking your Little grocery shopping with you to playing basketball or doing arts and crafts. Helping Littles with their homework and going to the library are also great activities.

Q. Are Bigs expected to spend a lot of money on their Littles?

A. No, on the contrary, Bigs are encouraged to do inexpensive or free activities with their Littles. BBBS hosts free activities for Bigs and Littles. You’ll receive a monthly newsletter full of ideas and things to do around town