Ohio University senior Elizabeth Gump, 21, of Broadview Heights, became a big sister seven months ago.
I can remember so many people in my life that spent time with me and had a great impact
Gump said.
Gump is the big sister to Ashley Buehler, 11, of Nelsonville.
I wanted to do that for someone else too. I hope to be a constant in Ashley's life I just want her to be herself
and I feel her shyness is melting a bit away
Gump said.
Gump is a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Athens County, Inc. The program started its annual Bowl For Kids' Sake campaign Feb. 1 to raise awareness of the need for more volunteers and more financial support for the organization. The campaign lasts until the end of April.
Through their one-on-one mentoring community programs, 68 children in Athens County are matched with a big brother or sister, and 30 more children are on a waiting list, program president Amy Reinhardt said. The program is free to children who participate.
The age requirement to be a big brother or sister is 19-years-old. Program participants must have access to reliable transportation, proof of insurance and also be willing to make a commitment of a year, or a school year for college students.
The program came about in part because of a need for children of single parents to have mentors.
However, Reinhardt said all children can benefit from a mentor in their life, and anyone who wants to participate in the program is urged to apply.
In order to be eligible for the program, children must reside in Athens County and be the ages of 6 and 16 years old. Children matched by the age of 16 can stay matched until they are 18. Income is not a factor for eligibility.
Rita Mash, 58, of Nelsonville, said she has seen the positive effects of the program on her seven grandchildren.
I would love to tell any parent not able to do things with their kids because of work
or grandparents that are raising grandkids
to go for it
Mash said.
Four of her seven grandchildren live with her and her husband, Jerry Mash, 63. The couple also watches three other grandchildren while their mom works.
The Mash's grandson, Logan Clay, 15, has been paired with Cory Taylor, 28, of Nelsonville, for three years.
Being a big brother is a good way to be a male role model in Logan's life, Taylor said.
I hope that I can keep his dreams alive and inspire him to go after them
he said.
Logan's sister, Jessica Clay, 13, hopes to become a big sister one day because of how much fun she has had in her five years in the program.
Her mentor, Anita Zielinski, 30, of Lancaster, has been matched with her for four years.
Jessica said that her mom is at work most of time, and it means a lot to have someone be able to watch her basketball games.
There are also certain issues that she's facing as a teenage girl that she can't always go to family members to talk about
Zielinski said. I feel very grateful that she feels comfortable asking me questions about sex and relationships
peer pressure and drugs.
Jessica and Zielinski have become close and do not plan on ending their friendship when Jessica reaches the age limit.
There's no time frame on this. I'll be there when she graduates from college
