About five years ago, Clinton resident Casi Reaves’ then 10-year-old daughter, Baylee, was having a difficult time in school. 

“She had a hard time fitting in with kids at school. She was bullied,” recalled her mom. “She didn’t have an outlet and kids don’t always want to talk to their mom.”

A friend told Reaves about the United Way’s Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) program.

Baylee was matched with fellow Clinton resident, Jennifer Harrington, whom Reaves calls a “perfect match” for her daughter. 

“It has been a great last few years,” Reaves said, thanks to her now 15-year-old daughter’s ongoing friendship with Harrington.

Harrington and Baylee get together about every other week for a variety of activities including homework, movies, library visits, dinner, and on birthdays and the anniversary of their first meeting, a trip to Artful Designs in Bloomington where Baylee can expound on her love of all things art. 

Thanks to her relationship with Harrington, Baylee’s mother said her daughter has changed from being angry and confused to learning how to redirect her anger. 

“(Big Brothers Big Sisters) is a great program,” said Reaves. “We tell everybody about it. It has been so helpful to us.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of DeWitt County has trained 30 volunteers this year, according to Heather Peavler, case manager of Big Brothers Big Sisters of McLean County.  Ten of those volunteers are awaiting a child to mentor.

BBBS has a site-based program and a community-based program, Peavler explained. The site-based is the more popular program and allows mentors to meet with their “little” once each week during lunch and recess. 

“The most important need Big Brothers Big Sisters of DeWitt County has right now is children,” said Peavler. “We have several volunteer mentors waiting to be matched with children in our schools, but no children to match them with.”

For more information about getting a child involved with BBBS or to learn more about volunteering, call (217) 428-4240.