Big Brothers/Big Sisters' waiting list grows

Imagine not meeting one of your best friends for another three years.\nRight now, more than 100 children are on the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Monroe County's waiting list, and a child often might wait two to three years for a match. \nThere are usually more boys on the waiting list and there is a lack of Big Brother volunteers, said Liz Grenat, executive director of BB/BS. Freshman Adam Quackenbush attended the Great Guys Tailgater, the final event of last week's Think Big Week, with Steve Denney, his Big Brother of six years. The two have been matched since Quackenbush was 12, after he was on a waiting list for three years.\n"My mom signed me up when I was younger because she thought I needed a male role model," Quackenbush said. "I saw him as one, but he became more of one of my best friends instead. He's always been there when I needed him. I guess I had some confidence issues and he has been the perfect shoulder to climb up on."\nThe two have impacted each other's lives and helped each other without really knowing it, said Quackenbush, who eventually wants to be a Big Brother. \n"It's been kind of refreshing to come home from a long day at work and go pick Adam up and just hang out," Denney said. "I had friends who were involved before I was and I decided to quit thinking about it and just pursue it. You forget about your problems when you're with him. It's been great not only helping Adam but being a part of a program that reaches out to kids who need support."\nDuring their six-year friendship, one of their favorite memories was when Quackenbush was a groomsman in Denney's wedding. Another valuable memory for Denney was being able to watch Quackenbush graduate from high school.\n"I never even thought that far ahead in the beginning and it was nice being able to see that," Denney said. "It's more difficult now that he's in college and I'm married, but wherever his job takes him or whatever happens in the future, we'll keep in touch."\nDenney's advice to potential Big Brothers or Big Sisters includes not being intimidated by the idea and the commitment. \nBeth Messersmith, a graduate student who works in marketing for BB/BS, promotes the same idea. Recently matched with a child in July, Messersmith and her husband are a Big Couple, which is another program that BB/BS offers. However, she originally went to BB/BS for an alternative reason.\n"I came here looking for an internship," she said. "But the more I learned about the program, the more I wanted to get involved. It started out as a job and turned out to be a whole lot more because it's the one time during the week I'm sure I'll have fun."\nA waiting period, a background check and orientation are examples of what a future Big Brother or Big Sister is required to complete before they are matched with a child. They then commit to spending at least a couple hours a week with their match, whether it's going out to dinner, catching a movie, playing board games or simply talking for a little while.\nSaturday night's Great Guys Tailgater was the final event BB/BS sponsored to attract more attention and volunteers to their program. Tickets to the football game were given to potential volunteers and the kids that attended, most of whom are on the waiting list.\n"It's been a really fun, beautiful day to be out here and this week's turnout has been great," said Grenat. "We've had 23 recruits so far and we spent most of the week visiting churches with the theme that if each church in Bloomington would send us just one volunteer, we wouldn't have a waiting list."\nTo learn more about volunteering, call 334-2828 to RSVP the next orientation session, which is 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday at the BBBS office, 418 S. Walnut, or visit the BBBS Web site at www.bloomington.in.us/~bbbs.