BBBS appreciates men who make a difference

Editor’s note: Third in a series about gratitude for the month of November.

Thankfulness comes in many forms and fashions but for Erath County Big Brothers Big Sisters, gratitude for their volunteers abounds.

Clay, a longtime volunteer, knows the joys of acting as a Big Brother after being matched with his Little Brother Kash.

As volunteers step up to the plate, men are needed as mentors, especially in Dublin where 50% of all matches are needed.

“ T o encourage men to become mentors I would say to just take the first step and do it. I t ’ s something you’ll 100% enjoy doing, plus you will gain a lifelong friend as I did with Kash,” Clay said.

Throughout his mentorship, Clay and Kash shared a love of sports and all activities and outdoors and their favorite activities were going to play putt-putt, going to play catch at the park or using a golfing simulator.

“I think my best moment as a match was watching Kash get excited when he made a hole in one in putt putt and ultimately beating me,” he said.

For those who are thinking about becoming a volunteer but may be worried about the time commitment, Clay reassures people that it does not require a huge amount of time “I wouldn’t say being a match was a huge time commitment,itwassomething I enjoyed tremendously so I would say it was a privilege,” he said.

Another thing Big Brothers, Big Sisters needs is monthly donors. Executive Director Sarah McNeal-Weaver is trying to establish 100 monthly donors by the start of 2024, at only $10 per month.

“I would encourage people to sign up as donors because it goes to a good organization that focuses on giving children someone to look up to and providing them with an amazing experience that hopefully they can participate in being a mentor in the future,” Clay said.

“Our program depends on amazing mentors like Clay. With their commitment we are able to impact the lives of children in our community,” McNeal-Weaver said.