BIG NEWSLETTER - AUGUST

Big and Little Activities
Fundraisers
Activity Ideas
130+ Things to Do in SLO County
Win A Fabulous Prize
Free Stuff
Announcements
Big Thanks
Dear Match Support Specialist
Matchiversaries

Big and Little Events

·September 25th Big and Little Day at Fort Hope in Arroyo Grande. Check out this western style museum that features a blacksmith's shop, a Native American village, a feed shop, and an old school house! Limit to 30 matches. Contact Alison to RSVP by September 20th.

·October 16-17 is Big Brothers Big Sisters Weekend at Kayak Horizons! Bring in your Little during business hours and receive a free hour of kayaking in Morro Bay! Click here to RSVP.

Fundraisers

· August - Do you have a watch requiring adjustment or a new battery? During the month of August, Baxter Moerman Jewelry will donate the proceeds (up to 80%) from all watch sizings and battery replacements to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Click here for a flyer to share with your friends. (Flyer is not necessary for fundraiser.)

· Do you have a vehicle you’re no longer using, or have been trying to sell? Consider donating your car! By donating your vehicle, you will help support BBBS & bless others with an affordable car. You won’t have the hassle of advertising or showing your car, and you will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Half the proceeds go to BBBS! More Info? www.MissionCars.com.

·Donate to BBBS with every purchase you make through e-script! Click on "sign up" - Click on Group ID and enter 6150021 in the search field. Then follow the simple process, enter any credit cards or store cards that you use, and BBBS will recieve a small portion of every purchase you make with those cards!

·If you shop at Scolaris, click on this link, choose to "update your card." Enter your Scolaris card number, type in your name, and type in BBBS's Friendship Code, 5041. Scolaris will donate a portion of your bill on your behalf.

Activity Ideas

Email your activity ideas to a Program Specialist who will add your ‘Fab Finds’ to our newsletter.

·Do you enjoy working with animals? Try volunteering at Woods Humane Society! Email Steve or call 543-9316 ex. 19.

·Beginning Saturday, April 10 and continuing through October, The SLO Botanical Garden will host child-friendly collaborative classes about gardening, nature and more! These events are on the second Saturday of each month from 10 am to 12 pm. Check this out for more info!

· Guitars not Guns is an organization that provides guitar lessons to vunerable youth in our community. They are currently taking applications. For an application, please contact Dale Andersen at 305-7185.

· Do-it-yourself bike maintanance with your Little at the SLO Bike Kitchen! Activities occur on Bike Kitchen on 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month! Then, help out at SLO Farmer's Market by volunteering for their Bike Valet Program. It takes place on Thursday nights from 5:30-9pm. Email Adam or Dan or visit the website for more information.

·Teach your Little how to surf! A community supporter is offering a 50% discount off of all surfing lessons! Visit the website for more information or email Van!

· Did you miss the BBBS Santa Maria Museum Day of Flight? One of our fabulous volunteers would love to share the experience of flight with you and your Little. For more information on flights email Bob.

· Share the gift of volunteering with your Little! Volunteer opportunities are available with the Senior Nutrition Program of SLO County. Assist with a variety of tasks while providing a positive impact for the elderly and our community! For more information visit the Senior Nutrition Program of SLO County.

For more activity ideas, check out the other links below.

130+ Things to Do in SLO County

Check out our updated list of 130 Free and Low Cost Activities as well as our new list of Activities for Achievement!

Win a Fabulous Prize

Win a fabulous prize if you Refer-A-Big! Do you know someone who would make a great Big Brother or Big Sister? If a BIG referred by you goes through the training and gets on the match list, you are entered into a drawing for a wonderful prize. Do something great for your community and for yourself!

· Thanks to Christie Tjong for referring BB Junior I! She won free music lessons.

Free/ Low Cost Stuff

·Check out the new farmer's market at Kennedy Club Fitness every Sunday from 10am-1pm. There will be face painting, a bounce house, free samples, and live music!

·September 5th: Big, Little, and Family day at Pops by the Sea. Please contact BBBS to pick up tickets. $1 for every 2 person pass.

·September 18th: Central Coast Roller Derby is teaming up with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Tickets are $12 in advance per person, $15 at the door and children under 10 are free. For more information go to the events page!

·We have FREE introductory class passes to Central Coast Yoga in Arroyo Grande. Contact the office to pick one up or have one sent to you!

· We have discount coupons to Knott's Berry Farm and Knott's Soak City waterpark in Orange County, San Diego and Palm Springs. Contact the office to pick them up or have them sent to you.

· Biking Buddies program in Pismo: Free bike rentals for Bigs and Littles. Check out this flyer for more info!

·Generous donors have gifted BBBS with free passes for Bigs and Littles to attend the Paso Robles Children's Museum. Contact Alison if you would like to pick up passes at our office or have one sent to you!

·Check out if your Little qualifies for free vision-exams or glasses through VSP's Sight for Students program!

· We have free kid's meal coupons to Chilli's Restaurant. Contact Alison if you and your Little eat at Chilli's.

· Women's Empowerment & Self Defense Workshop! FREE classes open to women and Littles ages 12 and up. !

· PERFORMANCE ATHLETICS GYMNASTICS has opportunities for our Littles to take 4 FREE classes with scholarship/reduced price options thereafter.

· Join the Meathead Wrestling Club on scholarship! For more information about the Meathead Wrestling Club and their ride-share program, contact Jeff Barksdale (Club Director) at 805-544-6328 or by email.

. Free Refurbished Computers are available for Littles through Exploration Station. Call (905) 781-3226 for more information. To donate your computer contact 473-1421.

. Low Cost Dental Care is available to children in the community who need it through La Clinica de Tolosa, a not for profit children's dental clinic. Call (805) 238-5334 for more information.

Announcements

· Are you, your Little and/or your Little's parent on Facebook? Contact Alison if you are interested in doing your monthly or quarterly check-in through Facebook!

· Join our Speakers Bureau. Its an easy way to support our fundraisers and outreach. For more information, contact Sarah.

· South County teens have a fantastic opportunity to join Lifebound Leadership, a fun Youth Leadership Program. Guest speakers, community leaders, professional athletes, and school board members will all be guest speakers. This program gives valuable tools to students on the collegiate road or for those who would like to make a positive change in their life.

· Teens can help with Tobacco Stings Program. This is a great way for teens to help stop teen tobacco use as well as helping keep their community safe and smoke free. For more info please contact Amber.

· Jewelry with our logo is available through Hearts Desire Creations! Please contact Teresa Wickersham at 602-509-4972 or heartsdesirecreations.com.

Big Thanks

· Thanks to LB Angel S for his prize winning photo series Punk Rock Chicken! The second prize went to Bethanie W. Thanks to all those who entered.

·Thanks to Dennis Krueger for offering free kayaking at Kayak Horizons!

·Thanks to Ranger Dan Chapman at Lake Lopez for taking BBBS youth on lake tours.

·A Big thanks to Brian Hermanson at Pops for donating concert tickets.

·Thanks to Chris at Mustang Water Slides for offering low cost entrance to the park.

Dear Match Support Specialist/ Asset Champion

10 Thoughts for a Meaningful School Year
Search Institute Senior Education Consultant, Nathan Eklund shares some back-to-school ideas for teachers.

1. If you're going to take care of students, you need to take care of yourself. Being in good health can't be something that only happens on vacations and weekends. You need to spend time every day making sure that you're taking good care of yourself so that you can take care of others.

2. Parents and teachers are each other's best allies. You only see your students a few hours out of their day. The rest of the time, they're in the hands of other adults. Unless you're on the same page with families, kids can slip through the cracks.

To read the rest of the article click here!

Matchiversaries

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