Big Brothers stops accepting children in Surrey to mentorship program due to volunteer shortage

Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver says it will no longer accept children to itsmentorship program inSurrey, B.C.,due to ashortage of volunteers.

Thirtykids in Surrey have been approved for the program but are still waiting to be paired with a mentor, the organization says, and theaverage wait time for a match is two years.

The program needs at least 38 more volunteers in Surrey to meet current demand.

"Without volunteers, we cannot reach children," said Norman Galimski, marketing and communications coordinator with Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver.

The program pairs children and youth with a mentor,and sees them builda relationshipthrough weekly activities.

"It's somebody who's there for you ... you can have a safe place to just be yourself, just play games, just talk,"Galimskisaid.

He says they used to serve more than1,000 children before the program was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since reopening in 2021, many volunteers have not returned. They currently serve around 700 children.

"You're waiting for something that might be able to change your life," Galimski said.

Galimskisays other cities in need ofvolunteers includeBurnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, Vancouver and North Vancouver.