A group of “bigs” had just walked into Just-In-Time Recreation when fifth grader Delailah Vachon spotted her “big,” Jocelyn Belena. Delailah’s face lit up. Wearing her bright turquoise fundraiser shirt, Delailah ran over and hugged Belena and immediately led her to the bowling lanes, beaming from ear to ear.

The scene took place at last Thursday’s Bowl for Kids Sake fundraiser for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Androscoggin County. The place was packed, with kids and adults bowling side by side, the air filled with laughter, childhood joy, balls hitting wood floors and pins falling.

The happiness and competitive spirit was palpable, with the “littles” challenging each other by bowling without bumpers and strategizing over the best ball to bowl with. Strikes, spares and gutter balls were all celebrated, washed down with soda and a hearty helping of cheese pizza.

The smiles on the “littles” faces when they interacted with their “bigs” — short for “big brother” or “big sister” — were proof of the program’s impact. That excitement and camaraderie are what inspire volunteers alike to become part of the nationwide network Big Brothers Big Sisters. It is certainly what inspired Jennifer Cartmell to take a leadership position.

Leaving a career in television and marketing in 2017, Cartmell wanted to do something for her community. Today she said she has found both a job and fulfillment as a program manager with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine.

“I feel blessed to be doing the work I’m doing,” Cartmell said.

One of her favorite moments is “seeing the look on children’s faces when I talk about their ‘bigs.’”

“One of my joys is sitting with the ‘little’ and hearing what they say about their ‘bigs,’ and then also telling the ‘bigs’ that,” the Androscoggin County program manager said.

“They just have this smile, even the shy ones that you know may be a little more reserved,” Cartmell said. “But as soon as I say to a ‘little,’ tell me about your big brother or big sister, they get this look on their face; they just light up.”  

The fundraiser has existed for more than 40 years. The money raised funds each pairing between “bigs” (volunteers) and “littles” (elementary school kids).

According to Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Director Tade Sullivan, every “big” and “little” match costs about $2,000 annually. This includes costs of screening and background checks on each volunteer, training, and playtime resources like arts and crafts materials and games. The money raised makes it possible for Big Brothers Big Sisters to provide mentoring services free of charge to kids who are facing adversity.

While the fundraiser happens on a national scale, the program for Mid-Maine serves seven counties: Androscoggin, Knox, Lincoln, Kennebec, Somerset, Penobscot and Waldo. Androscoggin County features a program at Connors Elementary School in Lewiston where students from Bates College are matched with children in first through fifth grades. 

“It was pretty cool to see the kids outside of a school setting kind of just being themselves,” said Parker Huynh-Benningfield, a Bates junior and a big brother since fall of 2023. He attended the 2024 bowling fundraiser.

While the main goal is to generate donations, the bowling event also celebrates relationships between the “bigs” and “littles” by providing an opportunity for kids to bowl with their matches outside a school context. 

This is the third year the event has been held at Just-In-Time Recreation. 

“We really enjoy hosting it because it helps bring the community, the young and the older, a chance to come together and spend time and have fun,” bowling alley co-owner Samantha Juray said.

A location marked by tragedy on Oct. 25, 2023, Just-In-Time was able to reopen with community support to host the 2024 event only seven months after the mass shooting there. 

Jocelyn Belena, Bates class of 2026 and a big sister since March 2023, said she’s aware of the impact when her little sister sees her.

“I think that’s honestly my favorite part, when I go and I see how much it really affects these kids that we show up every week and that we’re constant in their life,” she said.

Belena, who was inspired by her work with students at Lewiston High School to join Big Brothers Big Sisters, said there is importance in consistent visits.

“I feel like I’ve really become a safe space for her to just talk about her day, talk about her family and her weekend and just being there, being a constant,” Belena said.  

Cartmell said they match freshman and sophomores with first- and second-grade students in order to maintain the match all four years.

One Bates College “big” from the class of 2019 wrote about the impact of spending all four years with their “little”: “There is something to be said for consistency. Seeing the same child each week for years gets you up close and personal with their growth and all their encompassed fears, joys, habits and accomplishments.” 

One teacher noted the impact that a pairing had on one of their students: “With the addition of his big brother, my student is surrounded by solid and consistent care and feels valued with the 1-1 attention.”

“My student looks forward to the day of the week he will see his big brother; he always asks if it’s the day, and his mood is immediately lifted when he is told it is,” the teacher added.

When asked about their feelings about their “bigs,” one “little” replied, “She makes me feel like I have someone by my side to help me feel happy.” 

Others describe their “big” as “nice,” “fun,” “happy,” “kind” and “awesome.”  

In addition to the joy gained from both parties, “bigs” have discussed the social and educational benefits of the program. One mentor even said that their “little” gets in trouble less due to their relationship.  

Huynh-Benningfield described his “little” as coming “out of his shell” over the course of their relationship.

“I think he’s just more naturally reserved,” Huynh-Benningfield said. “I’ve been more naturally reserved and more quiet, so I guess I helped him out a little bit.”

Connors Elementary third-grade teacher Katie Hickey shared that five out of her 17 students have benefitted from the program. She said the bonds formed help kids “gain a better sense of belonging.”

Cartmell also described matching “bigs” and “littles” based on primary language, saying there is a joy that the “littles” felt from being able to communicate in their first language. Cartmell described one “little” who benefited socially when their “big” taught them how to express their feelings to English-speaking peers.

Many “bigs” say that relationships with their “littles” has a meaningful impact on them personally.

“I cannot articulate well just how moving it is to know that all I am doing is being someone’s friend,” one “big” said. “… It is not often that you are asked simply to exist and let your presence be enough for another person.”  

When asked what they have learned from their “bigs,” “littles” have listed everything from “friendship” and “patience” to “his face gets red when he’s outside.”

One “little” even mentioned they learned “it’s OK to act like a kid no matter how old you are.”