The two organizations provide positive and healthy mentorship for children throughout local communities. The programs offer adult volunteers the ability to help kids with homework, play a board game or simply serve as a role model in a child's life.

The Fall Festival and Haunted House is an annual event organized by Bloomington Big Brothers Big Sisters that takes place at the Crestmont Boys and Girls Club. The evening consists of a two-story house, constructed the day of and located in the Boys and Girls Club building and a block party consisting of fall and Halloween themed games, trick-or-treating and music.

Brothers assisted with the set-up of the haunted house and running the block party. The chapter organized games for the children to play as well, including a candy corn sensory hunt, pumpkin golfing, pumpkin decorating, make-a-mummy and more.

“The event showed the chapter the opportunities that exist to volunteer with the youth of the Bloomington community,” said VPCS Andrew Stallings. “By working with two separate organizations, brothers were able to familiarize themselves with the work that each does as well as see firsthand the positive impact they can have on a child. Additionally, brothers also learned personal interaction skills through playing games with the children (who as you might know, are a rare sight in college communities!), organizational skills in running the game and gained a positive view of the Bloomington community.”

According to Stallings, brothers really enjoyed the event and hope to hold events for these two great organizations in the future.  

If your chapter participated in a Make A Difference Day service event, please submit a summary and high-res photos to magazine@dsp.org.