TAHOE/TRUCKEE, Calif. andamp;#8212; This holiday season, as your thoughts naturally turn to family, friends, and to the amazingly inclusive community we have managed to foster in the Truckee-Tahoe region, think about what makes that community great andamp;#8230; Itandamp;#8217;s the people.Regular folks, looking out for one another; and knowing that when times get tough, someone will have their back.Well right now, in our community, there are more than 25 local children on the waiting list for a mentor who could provide just the support they need to avoid going down the wrong path in life. Thatandamp;#8217;s 25 kids who have taken the first step of reaching out and asking for help, for a little guidance, for just a little bit of someoneandamp;#8217;s time.Becoming a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters is not the massive time commitment many think it to be. We ask our mentors spend an average of three to four hours per month with their Littles, doing everyday activities they would normally do: skiing, snowboarding, cooking, watching movies, painting, reading, visiting museums, helping with homework andamp;#8230; whatever they are interested in.And the rewards are infinite. Almost all of the mentors in our program report getting more out of being a mentor than they ever dreamed. And the effect a Big Brother or Big Sister can have on their Little andamp;#8212; and the greater community andamp;#8212; is impossible to fully comprehend or measure. It is BIG!If you would like more information about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, please call our Truckee office today at 530-587-7717.

If you canandamp;#8217;t commit to becoming a mentor, why not support those who already have. By donating to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada County andamp; North Lake Tahoe, you will directly support the work of our amazing volunteer mentors andamp;#8212; work made possible by the programs arranged by our local Big Brothers Big Sisters agency here in Truckee and North Lake Tahoe.You can even make your donation through the personal fundraising page of one of our Bigs. Logon to http://www.firstgiving.org/bigsofnc and click on the andamp;#8220;View all fundraising pagesandamp;#8221; link in the upper right for a list of Bigs who have generously set up pages in support of our agency. Or contact Executive Director Dena Valin at 530-273-2227 for more information on how your donation can have the greatest impact.

If you or someone you know would be interested in supporting our programs in the Truckee and North Lake Tahoe region by serving on one of our four Advisory Boards andamp;#8212; Fund Development, Program Development, Finance/Budget or Community Relations andamp;#8212; please contact Truckee Program Manager Peggy Martin at 530-587-7717 or peggy@bigsofnc.org.

Find out more about your local Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter by becoming a fan of our agency on Facebook. You can learn more about the amazing power of mentoring to make a difference in our community, find out about fun volunteer opportunities, and see photos from past and future events. To find us, logon to http://www.Facebook.com/BBBSNC.

The BBBS Truckee office is located in Suite 105 of the Nevada County Courthouse Building (aka the Joseph Government Center), 10075 Levon Ave., Truckee. The Truckee office phone number is 530-587-7717. For more information, visit http://www.bigsofnc.org.