Arbutus RV & Marine Sales a strong local community supporter across Vancouver Island has a created a new bond and partnership to a very important cause The Big Brothers Big Sisters

 

CAROL & KYLE - BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE COWICHAN VALLEY

Carol and her young son Kyle came to our agency 11 years ago, shortly after arriving in Duncan . Carol, a single mom, recognized that no matter how much she loved her son there were just some things that they didn't get to do. Carol thought that Kyle would really benefit from having a male influence in his life.

After finding Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Cowichan Valley , Kyle signed up and was put on the wait list. After a while Kyle was matched with Big Brother Joe. Now Kyle and Joe did all kinds of fun things together, like building a go-kart and flying in Joe's plane to name just a few. Having Joe and Kyle matched gave Carol some much needed balance in her parenting. She was not the only one concerned about Kyle now, and Joe occasionally acted as a sounding board, as well as a mentor for her son.

After 4 years, the match between Joe and Kyle ended as Joe was getting married and his new wife already had children, but Kyle and Joe remain friends.

Kyle stayed on the wait list and attended activities for several years. At one point Kyle became a Senior Little whereby he helped out at activities, and co -facilitated some Child Safety Training for some of the older little brothers and sisters.

Around this time, Carol felt that she had time and energy to help out and was elected to the Bigs Board of Directors. She had always felt that she wanted to give back and while Kyle was still a teenager, this was what she could do. Carol helped with fundraising and built bridges between various community members and the agency. After 3 years she felt that it was time to move on. She did a lot of similar kinds of things at work and was not getting what she needed from volunteering as a Board Member.

Carol continued to help out in a variety of ways, but stayed on the periphery while Kyle was still a teenager. She remained a member of the organization and attended the Annual General Meetings. She and Kyle did a presentation at the AGM in 2006 and told their story of how they have been involved with the agency, and how they look forward to continuing their involvement. Many of those in attendance were moved by their story. Carol then announced that she would like to become a Big Sister, while Kyle, who turned 19 in March 2006, stated that he would eventually like to become an In School Mentor.

Carol was true to her word and signed up to be a Big Sister shortly after the AGM. She went through the screening and training and was matched with her little sister near the end of May. She is learning all kinds of things about little girls, and how they are different from her “little” boy. She and her Little Sister are having tons of fun gardening, biking, walking, and generally just hanging around together. Carol is so glad that she is able to give back in this way. She knows that Kyle's Big Brother had a huge effect on Kyle, and she hopes that she can have such a positive effect on her little sister. One is again very moved when feeling the words that are, so obviously, coming from her heart.

The owner of Arbutus RV & Marine Sales and the Island RV Guide would like to thanks Big Brother & Big Sisters of the Cowichan Valley for this great story.