Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel

March 11

Big Brothers Big Sisters expands

By Amy Calder acalder@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

WATERVILLE -- Alex Gaeth is determined to match at-risk children with nurturing adult mentors in Kennebec and Somerset counties.

The chief executive officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, Gaeth is expanding the organization to include those counties and plans to open an office May 1 at the Alfond Youth Center.

He speaks from experience when he says such positive relationships can change children's lives.

Head of the organization for eight years, Gaeth, 31, of Rockport, grew up in Nobleboro and graduated from Lincoln Academy in 2000.

He studied education and human development at Colby College, graduated in 2004, obtained teacher certification, taught a year or so and then moved on to the job that suited him best: heading up Big Brothers Big Sisters.

When Gaeth was 15 and a student at Lincoln Academy, a guidance counselor recommended he volunteer as a Big Brother as a way to help him get into college.

He was paired with A.J., a fifth-grader who lived with his mother and sister. They did the best they could for him, but he struggled with anger and abandonment issues, according to Gaeth.

For two years, he and A.J. spent time after school, playing football and other competitive games, with Gaeth never getting so much as a "thank-you" from the boy, he recalled.

Then one day, Gaeth got stuck in traffic and showed up late to the school to meet A.J. The boy was standing in the corridor with adult volunteers, his fist clenched, shouting, "He's not coming; I told you he wouldn't come!"

Then the boy spotted Gaeth.

"When he saw me, a tear rolled down his cheek," he said. "I just melted from the inside."

Then Gaeth realized what an impact he had made on the child's life.

"He was just unconditionally loved and that's all he needed," he said.

Gaeth also realized that children do not necessarily show gratitude, although they may certainly feel it.

"We talk to our Bigs about the fact that some kids don't know how to express gratitude -- they don't even know how they feel."

Matching 'Bigs' with 'Littles'

Children of single-parent, low-income families often struggle socially and academically.

Having an older mentor and role model can make a big difference in helping them to do better in school, boost their self-esteem and overcome behavioral problems.

The Augusta-based Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kennebec Valley closed its doors last July as it was having trouble recruiting and retaining a full-time director, according to Gaeth.

His organization, formerly called Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midcoast Maine, got approval from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to take on the territory formerly covered by the closed organization and expand into Kennebec and Somerset counties.

Since then, it has hired Monica Charette, special events coordinator, and Mae Slevinsky, community-based manager, and will hire a school-based manager as well.

Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs children ages 5 to 14 with mentors ages 14 to 80-plus in either a school-based or community-based setting, according to Gaeth and Charette.

"Bigs" who volunteer in a school-based setting may serve as coordinators or do direct mentoring with their "Littles" once a week for an hour or so. They help them with homework, play board games, do arts and crafts, read books, cook or just talk.

Community-based volunteers spend about two hours a week and may take their Littles to sporting events, movies, or other activities, or spend time in each other's homes.

"We have good stories about Bigs and how they teach their Littles how to swim," Gaeth said.

Bigs and Littles typically stay paired for a year or two. There is no cost to take part in the program.

(Continued on page 2)

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