Kevin Thompson, 47, is a Surrey resident and ink specialist in the printing trade. When he's not working, he spends his leisure time making clocks and playing golf. Thompson doesn't have kids of his own but has a special friend who he can share his "A' game with. Every week, Thompson spends a few hours with his Little Brother Derek hanging out, watching BC Lions games, bowling and golfing.
Thompson is a Big Brother.
Having come from a big family, Thompson knows the importance of family values and what it means to have a positive role model. So when Thompson turned 40, he decided to get involved with Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver.
Big Brothers matches boys aged 7-12 who have limited-to-no contact with their fathers with adult male volunteers through the Big Brothers program.
"For me it's about getting to be a kid again for a few hours a week. Being a Big Brother is my way of contributing to the community. Who gets to fly a kite or go to the go-kart track anymore? I have such a blast every time Derek and I spend time together. It's an incredible feeling to know that you've made a difference in someone else's life."
Thompson's Little Brother Derek is a competitive square dancer with the North Delta Recreation Centre and has won over 16 medals. The aspiring television broadcaster lost his father when he was 9 years old. Derek's mother decided to contact Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver because she wanted her son to have a male role model in his life.
"There are difficulties in every kid's life. To be able to see and participate in the ups and downs of growing up and know that I can be a source of support for Derek is an amazing thing," says Thompson.
The typical length of a Big and Little Brother friendship is one to two years, but Derek and Thompson are anything but typical. They were matched in April 2003 and recently received a five-year friendship award from the Big Brothers agency. At the awards ceremony, Thompson revealed that his most memorable moment with Derek was the first time he ever saw him dance. They had always talked about it but Derek's competitions were always out of town. When Thompson finally got to see his Little Brother on stage, he says, "I was so proud of him, I was grinning from ear to ear".
Thompson advises anybody interested in becoming a Big Brother to do so because the need is tremendous, especially in Surrey. He says that "although it might seem like a huge commitment, it is really only a few hours a week." He assures potential volunteers that they will get as much out of the experience as they give.
Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver mentoring coordinator Hapreet Bachhal says that the waitlist for boys waiting for a Big Brother in Surrey is up to two years.
"The reason for the long waitlist is the lack of volunteers in the area. However this summer we were able to match quite a few boys with Big Brothers thanks to the community-minded men in Surrey. Hopefully this trend will continue," says Bachhal.
Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver is celebrating Big Brothers Big Sisters Month during September as part of a nation-wide celebration of child and youth mentoring. The agency is actively recruiting volunteers now and throughout the fall.
There are many ways to support Big Brothers. From volunteering to event participation to donating used clothing, each option is equally rewarding and beneficial to our programs.
