Site based mentoring now offered

BAY COUNTY, Fla. ( WMBB ) – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida now offers site-based mentoring in Panama City.

With this type of mentoring, mentors meet with their Little Brother or Little Sister for one hour a week at Kaleidoscope School of Discovery in Panama City.

“So it could be going and reading a book to a child, having lunch with a child,” said Leanne Gaudet, Match Specialist with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida. “It just kind of gives that opportunity to people who may not be able to do it after school or on weekends.”

Gaudet said some businesses allow even their staff time off to mentor. She said some jobs will actually allow people to go mentor during their lunch hour or on company time.

“There are actually companies out there right now that are providing incentives to people to give back to the community,” said Gaudet.

This option is set up differently than their community-based mentoring, which allows the mentor to pick up the child at his or her home and spend time together in the community two to four times a month.

Gaudet said whichever way a person chooses to mentor, it’s the start of a meaningful friendship and potentially life-long relationship.

“Some people, like I said, start in elementary school and follow them all the way to high school and now beyond, so it can be a lifetime,” said Gaudet.

Visit PCBIG.org or call Leanne at 763-KIDS to inquire about becoming a mentor.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.