Big Brothers, Big Sisters coming to RB

By Staff
Nathan Strickland
RED BAY- Mayor Bobby Forsythe congratulated Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Shoals CEO Monica Grubbs Monday night at the city council meeting on receiving a grant for $20,000 to start a chapter in Red Bay.
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that try to have a measurable impact on youth.
Some of the grant money will be used to hire a full-time social worker to stay in Red Bay to help oversee the program. The government will also provide a VISTA to help with interviewing volunteers and recruiting children.
Red Bay council member Charlene Fancher currently serves as a volunteer in the program and believes mentoring to children is something she has always wanted to get involved in.
Fancher said programs like this could really change a child’s life for the better.
Grubbs said the expansion to Red Bay could really reach youth that need a role model in their lives.
Grubbs said Senator Roger Bedford gave $5,000 to get the branch started in Red Bay, but if it weren’t for volunteer Lisa Davis the expansion would have never happened.
Nearly 150 people have shown interest in the program. There have been 25 volunteers already to sign up and 20 to 25 kids have been interviewed.
Davis said bringing the program to Red Bay would really encourage more people to get involved.
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Shoals have been working for almost a year to get set up in Red Bay. Grubbs hopes to have the extension fully functioning within the next two weeks. If anyone would like to get involved in the program or would like just like more information contact the Florence office at 256-764-0772.