By Jodi Bonner Currently, there are about


Military mentor Charlie with his mentee A.J. Photo by Jodi Bonner.


60 to 70 children participating, and it has had a very positive impact and outcome on the children and their


ith several military bases in the


area, the First Coast is a major hub for active duty military families. Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Northeast Florida works to create programs specifically for these families. BBBS of Northeast Florida developed and implemented their new Military Mentoring program a little more than a year ago.


BBBS partners adult mentors with


youth mentees to create long-lasting friendships. Te purpose of the Military Mentoring program in Northeast Florida is to give support to children ages 9 to 18 of deployed, active duty parents. However, support is not restricted only to periods of deployment. Mentors are not intended to replace mom or dad, but rather to give children someone safe to talk to about the things going on in their lives. “All of us love our parents,” says Warren Grymes, chief executive officer of BBBS of Northeast Florida. “Yet situations arise where someone else says the same thing and suddenly we get it.”


Warren is hoping to get the word out


about the program to both recruit volunteer mentors, as well as invite military parents. “Many military feel that if they’re supposed to have it, the Navy would have issued it,” he says.


families. In order to ensure the best possible results, a Match Support Specialist uses a case plan to work with the volunteer and child, and helps them build trust and a relationship.


Tabatha, mother of 10-year-old


youth participant A.J., talks about the changes she saw in her son after he met his mentor Charlie King. "Te first thing I noticed was A.J.'s mood was more upbeat, especially after an outing or phone conversation with Charlie. His grades went from C's and D's to A's and B's and his conduct grade has [turned] 180 degrees."


Mother of two children in the


Military Mentoring program Delta Clayton says, "Both kids have been staying positive and remain focused on success. Tey are both more active in activities such as school, church and other organizations."


Many potential mentors hesitate to


volunteer, believing it will take more time than they have available or that it will be costly to keep the children entertained. However, Warren says, “We have many sponsored events at no cost to the Big Brother or Big Sister.”


A.J. and his Big Brother, Charlie, get


together every other week on average. “It’s very rewarding,” Charlie says. “I’m just as excited to see him as he is to see me.” Te pair attends sponsored events,


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and enjoys activities like playing around at the house, sports, and board or video games on dreary days. Teir favorite activity is fishing, which they do whenever possible.


Charlie is an active duty reservist in


the Coast Guard on deployment from south Florida. He has three girls back home, which is one of the reasons he joined the program. "It fills a void in me."


Te program creates communication


—not only with the child, but with the parents as well. "It allows A.J. to vent, and I can relay any concerns to his mom," Charlie says. A relationship with A.J.'s mother, Tabatha, allows them to rearrange plans to fit their needs. No one is boxed into a strict schedule.


"Charlie is awesome," Tabatha says.


"He always reminds me that he’s just a phone call away if we need anything.”


Overall, Warren would like to see


the program serve more children. He wants to promote the idea of putting another caring adult in the life of a child, and encourages parents to give BBBS of Northeast Florida a call.


"I thank BBBS for allowing my kids


to have this great experience," Delta says. "I would recommend anyone with children to be a part of this fantastic program.”


For more information about becoming


a mentor or a youth participant, please call 727-9797 ext. 237 or visit bbbsnefl.org.


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