When Elkhart native Tami Maier was in college, she did volunteer work with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and came to appreciate their proactive role in working toward a positive future for children.

That volunteer work led to a career with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Elkhart County that has lasted 25 years. Maier was honored recently for that milestone by board members.

The agency matches adult volunteers in a one-on-one mentorship with children who are facing difficulties in their home life, including the loss of a parent for any number of reasons.

Maier said she prefers Superior Judge David Bonfiglio’s term “at-promise” rather than “at-risk” to describe the children the agency has worked with over the years.

“The kids we work with are great,” she said, adding that with the right support and attention they can overcome many obstacles.

When Maier first started at Big Brothers, the agency rented space in both Goshen and Elkhart. In 1990, officials split the distance and purchased property in Dunlap on C.R. 13 near the NAPA auto parts store.

One of the biggest changes Maier has seen in the past 25 years is the number of children being raised by grandparents. And 17 to 18 percent of the children they now serve have an incarcerated parent. Another thing that has become epidemic in recent years is the transience in school systems, Maier said.

When she first started with the agency, most of the children served had one parent who lived far away or who had died.

“Now it’s across the board,” she said of the situations the children are dealing with.

The programs the agency offers have also evolved with the times, Maier said. While previously the program involved one adult with one child, with changing times and family commitments, the agency now has on-site “lunch buddy” volunteer opportunities and couple and family matches. The agency has a presence in 11 schools in four school systems.

“As times change and society changes, we change,” Maier said.

A main focus of the agency is still one-on-one “bigs” and “littles” mentorship, however.

The agency asks for a year commitment from its volunteers, but Maier often sees people stick around for two to three years and even those who keep in contact with their “little” after they age out of the program.

Staff is always available to support “the bigs,” Maier said. They are available to offer practical advice on goal-setting, problem solving, anger management skills, drug and alcohol awareness, grief issues and building social skills.

“A lot of these kids are lacking in social skills and confidence,” Maier said.

The biggest challenge Maier faces in her job is “we can’t find volunteers for every single child in the program as fast as I’d like.”

Finding men to volunteer can also be a challenge, which is a problem because there are eight boys for every girl in the program. That stems in part from the number of Indiana men who leave their families, Maier said, which leaves young boys in need of a male role model.

There is a waiting list of 20 boys in the program, which is actually “the lowest its been,” Maier said. She has had up to 200 on a waiting list. Referrals come from schools, counseling services, Boys & Girls Clubs and other agencies.

Volunteers are asked to meet two to four times a month with their “littles.”

“Bigs and littles” are pretty much free to do whatever interests them both while on their outings, Maier said, which is why matches are made with common interests in mind.

Some go to movies, some out to eat, some garden, practice woodworking skills and some just hang out.

Maier said children and teens will often talk to their big brother or sister about things they won’t share with their parents. And its often easier for the “littles” to take advice from their mentor that they won’t from a parent — even if it is the same advice.

Taryn Hulslander of Elkhart has been volunteering as a big sister for about five years.

“I was an only child and always wanted a little brother or sister,” she said. With this arrangement, she said with a laugh, you get all the good things about having a sibling without all the squabbling.

She said the program is very flexible and works around the volunteer’s schedule.

Her little sister Kayla Burch, Goshen, 11, said she enjoys like “getting out of the house.” She likes watching movies at the theater with Taryn and going out to eat.

Maier said she has seen many success stories in her 25 years.

“I have had people still see them (“littles”) after high school. We have had them be best man in each other’s weddings,” Maier said.

Last year, a big sister saw her little sister and called to report the little sis was in medical school.

“I don’t think the volunteers even know how much of a difference they make,” Maier said.

She knows a former program client who is a lawyer in Chicago and another who runs a social service agency. Another is studying robotics at Purdue University.

“We certainly have our sad stories too,” Maier said. “Those children who didn’t take the lessons learned in the program” to the next level.

“We just hope our volunteers show them another way of life and different options for their future,” she said. “Parents and grandparents are doing everything they can. They just need help.”