BRUNSWICK

There are about 20 children right now in the Bath-Brunswick area who need adults to look up to, someone who will listen, someone to spend time with.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick wants to help fill that void, but to do so they need some dedicated and caring volunteers.

Recently, a group of volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick, and the children they mentor, spoke about the benefits of having such a relationship with a youth.

For nearly six years, Kathy Manson of Brunswick has been paired with 11- year-old Kearstin, of Topsham, whose last name is being withheld at the request of BBBS.

Kearstin, at first, shyly hid behind her sketchbook, whispering into Manson’s ear rather than try to answer a reporter’s questions, before eventually emerging, full-bore, out of her shell. She’s quick to laugh and her affection for Manson is obvious.

Kearstin’s and Manson’s bond has been forged over the nearly six years they’ve been paired.

Manson recalled how Kearstin has grown since they first met.

“She was so little, her feet didn’t reach over the edge of the couch,” Manson said.

The two enjoy cooking a meal together once a week and they try to spend weekends together.

“I got to teach you to swim,” Manson told Kearstin.

Lately, they’ve enjoyed kayaking on Runaround Pond, said Manson. They love going to Gelato Fiasco and the local library.

“Just watching her grow up is amazing,” said Manson.

“Kearstin has had a lot of transitions, and Kathy has been there as consistently as possible,” said Aurora Hodgkins, program director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick. “I can imagine that’s been a nice reassurance for her, after changing schools and moving a lot.”

There are 66 active big-little matches in the community-based mentoring program, but as of Tuesday, there are still 10 girls and nine boys in the area who are still anxiously waiting to be matched with the right mentor.

BBBS of Bath/Brunswick covers Brunswick, Harpswell and all of Sagadahoc County. Children are primarily living in single-parent homes.

“Sometimes they wait for a really long time,” said Hodgkins. “There’s a boy in Bowdoinham who has been waiting for three years.”

After passing a rigorous screening process, volunteers are asked to make two-to-four visits a month with their little brother or sister.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters are asked to make a one-year commitment to spend time with a child. More than 80 percent of “Bigs,” Hodgkins said, keep the partnership alive longer than that. The average length of a match is about 3.5 years.

“Volunteers are just people in the community who enjoy the kinds of things the children enjoy. Outdoor interests, cooling, kayaking, and identifying new interests for both of them,” said Hodgkins.

“They’ve developed a friendship that won’t ever be broken,” said Kearstin’s father, Jerry.

Tracy Peck-Moad has two adopted sons, Arthur, 9, and Romil, 16. She signed her sons up for the BBBS program because she said she knew how important it was to have a positive male role model in their lives.

Peck-Moad said it was especially important that Romil have a mentor who helped him adjust to life in the United States, after having immigrated from Haiti.

Both boys had to wait about two years before they were paired with a Big Brother.

Jay Prindall has been Romil’s Big Brother mentor for about three years. The two guys have a few things in common. They are soft-spoken and enjoy the outdoors, and had been planning a hiking trip up Tumbledown Mountain. Romil especially loves football.

“What I like about Romil is he has a good sense of adventure. He’s up to a challenge,” said Prindall. “He listens well, and is really curious.”

“He was very, very shy during our first meeting,” said Brian Smith, Arthur’s mentor, describing his “Little.” “But the first time we went to Fat Boy, he was talking a blue streak in the back seat, and he never stopped.”

Now, the two enjoy buddy weekends and a good game of catch.

Some BBBS mentors said it was surprising how organic their relationship with their “Littles” formed.

“I didn’t realize how quickly a friendship could be formed,” said Prindall. “It’s just part of my life, this time with my friend.”

“I look forward to a long relationship with Arthur,” said Smith. “The longer it goes, the better and deeper it will become.”

At BBBS of Bath/Brunswick’s office, Hodgkins reflected on the impact she’s seen Big Brothers and Big Sisters have had on youth.

“Some people say it made all the difference for me, having that positive role model — an older person with wisdom and guidance to share, and also be a part of a child’s growth and development,” said Hodgkins.

For Kathy Manson, the time she has spent with Kearstin has all been worth it.

“Knowing that her dad’s a single dad, and that she doesn’t have that female role model, I think is huge for me,” Manson said. “She gets to have girl time. Our time together is girl time, and she doesn’t have to share with a little brother.

“I can’t imagine my life without her now,” said Manson.

Asked what Kearstin likes about Manson, she said: “Everything.”

“She’s fun, and she’s really nice,” said Kearstin.

“You’re going to make me cry,” Manson replied.

Kearstin laughed in response, playfully rolling her eyes: “Please don’t. You’ll embarrass me.”

Call 729-7736 or go to www.bbbsbathbrunswick.org for more information, and find out how to volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick.