Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 17, 1995 TAG: 9508170065
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ELLEN DAVIES SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"At one time, the agency was thriving [in the Roanoke Valley]. I would like to see that come back," said House, who recently was appointed executive director.
House said she encountered some of the same obstacles in the Roanoke program that she had to overcome in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program she managed in Garden City, Kan.
Attracting volunteers, especially black men, is the major need of the Roanoke program, said House, adding she plans to develop a more prevalent role in the community.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters matches children who come mostly from single-parent households in one-on-one relationships with caring adults in the community. These partnerships foster the children's development and help them realize their potential, House said.
The Roanoke program has about 50 children waiting to be matched.
In order to attract more volunteers, House said, the program must make efforts to accommodate the needs of the community.
"In the past, we have asked volunteers to commit to a year of volunteering with three to five hours a week,'' she said. But, now the program is asking volunteers to give as few as three to five hours a month.
A new focus also is being placed on a school mentoring program in which students with behavioral problems are matched with an adult in the educational environment.
School mentoring "is sort of like a modified Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. Volunteers work with students on school grounds and within the school environment," said Frances Williams, a Big Brothers/Big Sisters board member.
In addition, said Williams, a Roanoke County school administrator, Big Brothers/Big Sisters hope to involve more businesses.
"I think we can recognize that a role model is important. It may not be as important as food, shelter and clothing, but it gives us hope," House said.
"For self-esteem reasons, children need adults to be involved in their lives. They need someone. They need to know an adult cares about them and wants to spend time with them," House said.
"We are not asking volunteers to give up something that they don't have. They have these resources we are just wanting them to feel good about giving them," House said.
Marcel Michelli, 19, is a success story, said his Big Brother, Keith Young.
A recent Patrick Henry High School graduate, Michelli will attend Tusculum College in Greenville, Tenn., on full scholarship this fall.
Michelli said a lot of things he learned during the last six years, he wouldn't have learned without Young, who has been his match.
"Today, Keith is much more to me than a volunteer. ... He is more like a father and part of the family."
Raised by his grandmother, Michelli said he is thankful for the program because it has given him someone to do some things with - playing sports, going to games or just to talking about life and even girls - that many sons and mothers can't always do.
Michelli said his and Young's relationship stretched beyond normal circumstances when he became sick with cancer.
Young's support was instrumental in helping him through this time, said Michelli. "Just having someone to be there to talk to about my feelings on how I felt about being sick with cancer ... and even just having someone there with me was a big help."
Young, who has been a Big Brother since 1971, said his experiences over the last year have been some of the most rewarding in his time with the organization. "There are things that happened this year that make me know I have made a difference."
Memo: NOTE: Also ran in August 29, 1995 Current.