By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Business are not the only ones being hurt as a result of the coronavirus shutdowns.
Big Brothers Big Sisters statewide, including the office in Ellis County, had to postpone their annual Bowl for Kids Sake events.
The Ellis County event was planned for May 4. This is the first time in its 21 years the event has been postponed.
The annual fundraiser, one of the organization's largest, raised thousands of dollars for the local organization, Jenny Bates, Ellis County BBBS director, said.
The Bowl for Kids Sake postponement is anticipated to cause a cash-flow problem for the organization, Bates said.
Although Ellis BBBS already had its main sponsors in line, teams, who brought in pledges, were just being formed.
In an attempt to make up some of the revenue from Bowl for Kids Sake, BBBS has launched the Big Night In.
Donors can go to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Night In webpage to donate. Use the county pull down menu to direct donations to the Ellis County BBBS organization.
Big Night In donations will be taken through April 2o.
"We are hoping that if many give a little, we can make up some of what we won't see from Bowl for Kids Sake," Bates said.
Although Bigs and their Little matches can't see each other in person because of social distancing rules, they are keeping in touch through phone calls, emails, texts, letters and video chats.
Ellis Bigs has 135 active matches.
Bates and her staff continue to work, although from home, to help the matches maintain those connections.
"We still have to provide our support services to our families and our Littles and Bigs, so we can keep the safety and the quality to the high standards we have for all of our matches," Bates said.
She said she did not want the virus outbreak to change the services children are receiving from Big Brothers Big Sisters.
"These children that we are serving need their Bigs now more than ever as they are going through all of these changes," Bates said.
"Their school is looking different for them. Jobs at home might be different with their parents or who they are living with. We don't want their Big not to be there. It looks different, but they are still there supporting them."
Bates said her staff is staying in contact with its matches to facilitate communication. It is also serving as a clearinghouse for resources for Littles' families.
"The children we are serving and the families we are serving are some of the most vulnerable already in our community," Bates said. "This is definitely going to be hard for some of them."
BBBS has provided talking points to Bigs to use if their Littles have questions about the coronavirus.
Ellis BBBS is still accepting and processing applications for matches. The local chapter has 50 children on its waiting list.
Bates said she hopes she can have more matches ready when social distancing restricts are lifted.