“Lunch Buddy” Program Awarded Funds
Volunteers Needed to have lunch in the Niles and Brandywine Schools

Niles – The United Way of Greater Niles announced today that a Special Grant has been awarded to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berrien & Cass to support the “Lunch Buddy” program in the Niles area.
The Lunch Buddy program matches an adult volunteer with a child needing a mentor. The “buddies” have lunch together once a week at the child’s school during the school year. National studies have shown that children in lunch buddy programs have a dramatic increase in self-confidence, an improvement in attitude toward peers and authority figures and teachers report that the child’s grades improve. Those interested in becoming a lunch buddy are encouraged to contact Big Brothers Big Sisters executive director Mahlon Wise at 684-1100. Wise hopes to find 25 volunteers to give an hour a week to have lunch with a child in the Niles area.

August 25, 2004