In alignment with National Mentoring Month, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region (BBBSCR) is seeking new volunteers. In BBBSCR's five-county service area, more than 100 youths are on the agency's wait list for a mentor.

The gap between mentorship and youths who may benefit from it continues to widen, possibly due to perceived barriers of the time and expertise needed to become a mentor. This January, BBBSCR is seeking to shift perceptions of mentorship and redefine the little everyday moments that can make a big impact on the lives of young people, such as going to a movie, sharing a slice of pizza, and getting coffee.

Paul Almquist, a BBBSCR mentor, was matched with his mentee - known as a Little - Ethan, in 2015, and in June of 2023, he watched as Ethan received a leadership award from his high school JROTC program.

Throughout January, BBBSCR will highlight the power of little moments and the experience of being a mentor through its social media and community engagement. The organization plans to recognize and celebrate several volunteer mentors who have made a life-changing impact on their Littles. Additionally, the nonprofit arranged for the State Capitol Complex to be illuminated in green, facing State Street, from Jan. 8 to 15 in appreciation of the positive impact mentors make in the lives of youths across Pennsylvania.

BBBSCR also invites community members to share their most pivotal mentorship moments, no matter how big or small, on all social media channels using the hashtag #BeBig and tagging @BBBSCapRegion. This tapestry of stories is part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America's digital storytelling initiative, "A Million Little Moments," serving as a testament to the significant impact and universality of mentorship moments.

To learn more about becoming a mentor, visit http://www.capbigs.org.