BBBS enjoy fishing day with Shelby County Bassmasters

A group of Big Brothers Big Sisters Volunteers and assigned Littles recently enjoyed a beautiful day at the home of Mike Meyer of Fort Loramie, where they attended a fishing derby hosted by the Shelby County Bassmasters. Around 40 Volunteers and Littles attended the annual event, which was held on Saturday, September 7th.

The outing included a cookout for all Bassmaster members, their children, and the BBBS Volunteers and their Littles. The fishing event concluded with an award ceremony for the top fisherman in several age categories.

Shelby County Bassmasters were able to put on this event as a result of local fisherman participating in bass tournaments throughout the year with a modest portion of the entry fee going toward the purchase of individual poles for each child. Other sponsors included Kiwanis Club, ODONR, Freedom Outdoors Marina, Mully’s Drive Thru, Spillway Bait & Tackle, Russ Michaels, Gary & Vicky Tipps, Ruth & June Slade, and Mike Meyer.

Jennifer Bruns, Executive Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters stated, “The Shelby County Bassmasters should be commended for this wonderful activity. The children who participate in this outing truly look forward to it each year, and it exposes them to a new hobby that they might not otherwise get the opportunity to do.” Bruns stated, “ Being outdoors, getting fresh air, and learning about fishing is a neat experience for the children in the program.”

Group activities are part of the mentoring program for children from at-risk homes. Presently, the Shelby & Darke County agency has 100 matches with a list of over 15 children yet in need of an adult volunteer. Volunteers are required to see the children two times per month, offering support and fun, educational activities. It should be noted that match activities can be scheduled around a volunteer’s calendar, and offer a fantastic way to have a positive impact on youth in our community.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County is a non-profit, United Way member agency. We are always looking for additional volunteers. If you would like more information on enrolling your child in the program or becoming an active volunteer, please call 937-492-7611 or 937-547-9622. You can also log onto the agency website to view all the volunteer opportunities and upcoming activities at www.bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org.