By GINA KINSLOW
William Lindner waited four years to be matched with a volunteer through Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Kentucky.
In January 2007 the 13-year-old Barren County Middle School student was paired with Freddie Norris, a Glasgow pharmacist, who finds time to spend with him each week in between work and his duties as pastor of Neal’s Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Glasgow City Council.
Norris decided to volunteer for the organization because he felt led to do it.
“I felt the Lord was sort of tapping me on the shoulder to see if I could do this,” he said.
Norris volunteers through the organization’s Community-Based Mentoring Program, which means he spends on average two to four hours a week with Lindner.
“We play basketball, golf and we play pool and we go to church together,” said Lindner.
Sometimes the two do chores together.
“Wednesday is our day,” Norris said. “We might rake leaves or watch TV a little bit.”
They take turns deciding what to do during their time together.
Lindner’s parents are divorced. He lives with his mother and teenage sister. He said he sometimes needs someone with whom he can do guy things.
“I like being with Freddie, and getting away from all the drama my sister makes every day,” Lindner said. “He’s fun. We have a lot of fun together.”
He’s also helped Lindner consider the future. He wants to be a pharmacist.
“I’m going to take after Freddie,” Lindner said.
Norris has encouraged Lindner to do well in school.
“He’s only had one B,” Norris said. “His grades are good.”
By volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Norris had to agree to a one-year commitment. In January, Norris and Lindner will get to decide if they want to continue spending time together.
John Botts, Barren County match coordinator for the organization, will meet with Norris, Lindner and Lindner’s mother to see how things have gone and if everyone would like to continue the relationship.
“All three have to agree it is a good thing before they can continue,” Botts said. “My hope is they will.”
To date there are 39 volunteers matched with children in Barren County. Ten of those matches are with the organization’s Community-Based Mentoring Program, while 29 are with the School-Based Mentoring Program.
Of the 39, only eight are men.
There are 36 boys ranging in age from 6 to 12 on the organization’s waiting list, Botts said. “Some have been waiting for years.”
It’s important for people to get involved with the program, Lindner said, “because it really helps out the kids.”
Norris agreed and added investing time in a young person’s life will have “eternal significance.”
“When you can show love and kindness to people, you don’t have to have money, it will make a profound effect upon another person,” he said.
Botts said he realizes that becoming a Big Brother or a Big Sister is not for everyone.
“In order to do this you’ve got to have someone with a little bit of patience, because it’s not always going to be perfect. I read a book, I think John Maxwell had a statement that said ‘giving is the highest level of living.’ If you are a giver, you discover that’s where it’s all at, and it gives you a chance to give something back,” he said.
“Maybe you had someone in your life, that when you were a young person, they gave you advice, guidance or support. Just someone you liked being around. When you were around them you felt special. You felt like they cared more about you than anyone else in the world. Every child needs to experience that, knowing that someone is going to go to bat for them, someone is going to be there for them.”
