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Grant allows kids a night out
Courtesy of a grant funded by the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas, a group of area children were treated to a viewing of "Horton Hears a Who!" on Saturday at Fort Cinema, 224 W. 18th Street.
According to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bourbon County Case Manager Trisha Lashley, the local organization applied for and received a grant, which totaled $948. The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas grant will help BBBS of Bourbon County fund three different events this year for the local matches.
Saturday's viewing of "Horton" was the second of three events that the agency organized for the at-risk children in the program. Since the majority of the agency's "Bigs" are high school students who spend time with their "Littles" on their lunch hours a couple of times per week, the trip to the movie theater gives these school-based matches a chance to spend time together outside of the school setting, Lashley said.
According to Lashley, the school-based matches are not allowed to spend time together outside of the school setting unless it is at a BBBS sponsored and staff monitored event.
The agency also participated in the Christmas parade this past Christmas utilizing funds from the grant to help decorate their float. The third event that the organization will use the grant funds for could possibly be a pool party for the school-based matches at the end of the school year.
Although the majority of the local matches are school-based, the agency does make community matches also. Lashley said that currently the organization has about five community matches, but would like to have at least ten community matches at all times.
According to Lashley, anyone can become a community mentor with the agency as long as that person can pass all five of the background checks that the agency runs on new applicants. The background checks help to ensure the safety of all involved. Lashley said that the intake for new matches is quite lengthy in order to make the best match possible.
After a match has been made, Lashley said that she stays in contact with the Big, the Little and the parent in order to make sure that everything is running as smoothly as possible.
"A lot of times, I call and can help troubleshoot issues like scheduling," Lashley said. "We're there to support the match. That way, it will last," she said.
The very first mentor to become a match to an at-risk child in Bourbon County was local resident Pat Bishop, according to Lashley. Bishop has been a huge supporter of the program, Lashley said. Currently, Bishop is organizing a 10K Run in an effort to raise funds for the agency. Lashley said that the 10K Run will replace the Bowl for Kids' Sake fundraiser that the agency had conducted every year since 2005. According to Lashley, since the bowling alley in Fort Scott closed, a new fundraiser was needed.
According to letter written by BBBS of Bourbon County Board Chair Reed Hartford, the local BBBS is currently serving 31 children through school-based and community based matches. According to Hartford's letter, when compared with their peers, children who are a part of the BBBS program are 46 percent less likely to initiate drug use; 27 percent less likely to start drinking alcohol; and 55 percent less likely to skip school.
"These are important results when one considers the many risks faced by young people in today's society. That's why finding and matching volunteers to our growing list of children is so vital," Hartford's letter said.
If you have questions about BBBS of Bourbon County, contact Lashley at (620)223-3489.