When Les Himelick moved to Maine to work at the Brunswick Naval Air Station, he had a good reason to approach Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick. "I had a Big Brother when I was a little kid," He told me. He was nine or ten when matched with his Big and although it was a long time ago he remembers that the experience was positive and significant. He wanted to give back to a child that which was given to him: guidance, support, and lots of fun.

Les and his Little Brother Jon were matched in July of 2006. Their first meeting involved playing X-Box at Jon's house while they got to know each other. Since then they have shared many fun outings including swimming at Coffin's Pond, Whites Beach, and the Bath YMCA. They have gone indoor rock climbing and bowling. They work out and play racket ball at the gym on the base. They have taken day trips to Funtown/Splashtown, and to Aquaboggan, Jon's favorite water slide is the "Stealth," but they also have fun on the "Auquasaucer." The friends have been to Portland Pirates Hockey Games, The Children's Museum, and to Portland Headlight. One of their favorite activities is roller skating at Roller World, and they skate about once monthly. Jon and Les have attended several BBBS organized events with other Community Matches. They have gone to a Lewiston Maniacs hockey game, been swimming at the Holiday Inn pool party, had lunch and been entertained by a magician at the Bigs and Littles Holiday Social and handed out candy during the Bath Heritage Day Parade. Of course one of their favorite BBBS events was a skating party at Roller World complete with pizza lunch. These group outings are a fun way to meet other Bigs and Littles in the program.

Along with all the fun Jon has learned some practical life skills as a result of his friendship with Les. Les was proud to report that he taught Jon to rotate the tires on his truck and to change the oil, a process that Jon can complete by himself with Les' supervision. "The kid is great with an air gun," Les beamed. Jon's mother is pleased as well, "That's one thing (skill) that he wouldn't have ever learned from me," she stated smiling.

The pair has been matched for close to two years and Les has noticed that Jon has become more self assured. He is easy going and can communicate well with lots of different people. "And he's grown like eight inches" Les exclaimed at the conclusion of our meeting, "well that might be an exaggeration, but he is a lot taller," he amended.

Are You Ready To Be Matched?

As a child Les had a Big Brother of his own, now he is giving back to a child by being a friend. There are 20 boys and 7 girls waiting for a Big Brother or Big Sister. Matches are made according to similar interests, personality traits, and needs of both the Big and Little. Children in the Community Program are between the ages of 6-14 and live in a single parent home. If you are interested in becoming a Big please contact Aurora Joseph, match support specialist at: 729-7736 ext: 16 or email: Community@bbbsbathbrun.org.