Being a 'Big' means becoming a pillar in a child's life
Travis Thomas accepts the 'Big Brother of the Year' award with his Little, Elijah. The pair are pictured with Big Brothers Big Sisters Southwest Louisiana Chief Executive Officer Jillian Cormier. (Special to the American Press)
April is National Volunteer Month, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana is celebrating by highlighting the Bigs who keep their mission alive.
BBBS SWLA facilitates matches between Bigs (volunteers) and Littles, and provides programming for at-risk youth in Allen, Beauregard , Calcasieu, Cameron, Jeff Davis and Vernon Parishes, serving over 400 youth across 20 schools.
Over 2,500 BBBS-SWLA volunteer hours have been recorded this year. Throughout the month, BBBS is highlighting the stories of Bigs in the region. Julia Tassin, marketing and development manager, BBBS, said that at the heart of everything at BBBS is the belief that each child has 'incredible potential.' BBBS puts supporters in the corner of kids who are in need.
The supportive one-on-one relationships between Bigs and Littles 'ignite' the potential in children and help them build confidence, she said.
Travis Thomas, who was honored as 'Big of the Year' in 2023, is one of the 120 Bigs in Southwest Louisiana. He began volunteering two years ago. He was inspired to become a Big while he was volunteering at BBBS's Summer Academy – a youth summer mentoring program.
'I created a bond with one of the kids there after asking if he wanted to play Uno. We built a relationship from there,' he recalled.
When becoming a Big, his intention was to 'give, not gain' by committing to bring is time, energy and talents to the mentorship program. For Thomas, the act of sacrifice for the greater good is the meaning of volunteerism.
The moments that have stood out to him range from helping his Little gain independence by having him order his own food, to seeing his little learn to manage his anger.
In return, Thomas has learned better time management and to become more intentional with actions
The Bigs are the 'heartbeat' of BBBS, and are trained not to be perfect, but to be present, Tassin said..
'They show up consistently, build trust, and form meaningful connections with the Littles,' she explained. 'Whether it's grabbing a snow cone on a sunny day, helping with homework or just being a listening ear, the time they invest makes a lasting impact.'
There are still 84 littles who need to be paired with a Big. Tassin said volunteers don't need any special skills or a structured schedule to be a Big, they just need two spare hours a month.
'You just need to be willing to show up and be consistent. The impact you can make by simply being there for a child is huge,' she said. 'And for anyone who's even slightly considering it – this could be the start of something life-changing, for you and for a Little.'
Thomas said deciding to become a Big is more than just a decision to volunteer, its a choice to become a pillar in a child's life.
'You are actively mentoring the future generation. You are building, shaping, and pouring into the next generation of doctors, lawyers and governors.'
Those interested in volunteering with BBBS-SWLA can apply online at bbbsswla.org/volunteer.
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