Big Brothers Big Sisters of Saskatoon is celebrating National Mentoring Month, and looking to recruit new mentors in January.

Kathy Hauser, Director of Service Delivery, says they have about 100 kids on wait lists right now, waiting to be paired with mentors. She says people can volunteer for programs like in-school mentoring that requires a commitment of about an hour a week, to the traditional Big Brother, Big Sister programs with a weekly commitment of 3 to 4 hours per week. Hauser states Big Brothers Big Sisters, also runs a diverse range of 13 different programs, with varying hours.

Currently Hauser says virtual in-school mentoring allows mentors to visit with youth online, to play games, visit and build friendships. Volunteers must be 18 or older, and Hauser says they look for people who are in a stable spot in their life, and have lived experience. They pair volunteers with youths based on personality, interests, and location.

Hauser suggests the need to for mentors for Saskatoon kids is growing during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they work with families and kids that are feeling socially isolated. Hauser says for some, mentors are only people checking in on a regular basis and so they’ve definitely seen the need for kids to be matched to mentors, growing in the city.

Find out more on how to volunteer here.