Delivering on a Promise
The Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) program has been a well-loved part of the 乐播传媒/Lewiston Public Schools experience for many student mentors (鈥渂igs鈥�) and their mentees (鈥渓ittles鈥�) for over 20 years. Initially operated through the Child Health Center in Auburn, and then through Community Concepts, it is now offered through BBBS Mid-Maine. 乐播传媒 students commit to a one-year match with an LPS student at Connors Elementary School, but many of these matches last for the entire four years that 乐播传媒 students reside in Lewiston, creating long-lasting friendships that sometimes even surpass those four years.
Each spring, BBBS typically holds a field trip that brings 鈥渓ittles鈥� to the 乐播传媒 campus to have lunch in the Dining Commons with their 鈥渂igs鈥� and to experience a bit of campus life. This year, because 乐播传媒 students left campus in March amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the field trip was cancelled, disappointing many of the 鈥渓ittles鈥� who had been looking forward to this special time with their 鈥渂igs.鈥�
In response, Jennifer Cartmell, manager of the BBBS program in Androscoggin County, decided to bring the field trip to them through personal deliveries of letters and activity packets from their 鈥渂igs,鈥� a pizza from Sam’s Italian Foods, and a 乐播传媒 bobcat t-shirt and pencil supplied by TD Bank. These visits helped lift their 鈥渓ittle鈥� spirits and renewed their feeling of connection to the program and their 乐播传媒 mentors.
In the words of Jennifer, 鈥淭he 乐播传媒 鈥榖igs鈥� have continually been supportive, positive resources with their heart-filled, sensitive, and loving attention. In light of the pandemic, they have continued to provide the children this care, with over 160 letters written by and to 鈥渂igs鈥� and 鈥渓ittles鈥� since March!鈥�