The first time Melissa Sheridan and Shania were scheduled to meet, Shania forgot, the 11-year-old admits.That was four years ago. Today, the Grade 6 Squamish student looks forward to their dates."I think we are pretty much connected for life now," Sheridan said. Sitting beside her on a couch, Shania nodded in agreement.The two have grown close, Shania agrees like sisters. And that's what it's all about.Sheridan has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters for six years. As a child, Sheridan heard about the program. Having grown up with a big sister, she thought it would be nice to have a younger sibling.Sheridan and Shania meet once a week. Swimming is Shania's favourite activity. Over the years the duo have also ventured to the PNE, gone ziplining and tackled the obstacle course at Whistler's Monkido."I know that if I wasn't in Big Brothers Big Sisters, I would not have gotten to do everything," Shania said. "I have learned to be a better person.""I think I have learned to be more patient," Sheridan said, before she flashed Shania a cheeky smile. "[Big Brothers Big Sisters] has taught me not to worry about the little things."Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Sea to Sky Corridor has 135 youth between the ages of 7 to 14 in its programs. It's also got a waitlist, something Anne Marie McKenzie, BBBS Sea to Sky program supervisor, doesn't like to see.The agency needs 20 volunteers in the Squamish area to help run its current programs. That includes BBBS's In-School Mentoring Program and Big Bunch, a initiative in partnership with Sea to Sky Community Service's Fresh Families.While the warmth of summer is months away, the six- to eight-week intake process means volunteers who sign up now won't start volunteering until late February. Timing is particularly imperative to the In-School Program, in which for the duration of a school year, volunteers meet their little brothers or sisters once a week between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on school grounds.The volunteer cut-off date is quickly approaching for this school year, McKenzie said. With six elementary schools in Squamish, McKenzie originally hoped for 30 volunteers."There is one school in particular that we really wanted to focus on," she said.The program is a commitment, but most people find it is not as time consuming as they first think, McKenzie said. Both men and women are invited to take part in the initiative, which runs for an hour a week.BBBS's traditional program requires the "siblings" to meet two to four hours each week, with a minimum commitment of one year.To find out how to volunteer visit www.beamentorseatosky.com or call (604) 892-3125.
