FORT LORAMIE — A group of Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteers and “littles” recently enjoyed a beautiful day at the home of Mike Meyer, of Fort Loramie, where they attended a fishing derby hosted by the Shelby County Bassmasters and Kiwanis Club of Sidney.

More than 60 volunteers and “littles” attended the annual event.

The outing included a cookout for all Bassmaster members, their children, and the BBBS volunteers and their “littles.” The fishing event concluded with an award ceremony for the top fishermen in several age categories.

Shelby County Bassmasters were able to put on this event as a result of local fishermen’s participating in bass tournaments throughout the year. A portion of the entry fees supported the purchase of individual poles for each child. Other sponsors were Kiwanis Club, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Al’s Pizza in Fort Loramie, Molly’s Drive Thru, Spillway Bait & Tackle, Russ Michaels, Wagner IGA, Greenthumb Nursery, Playtex and Meyer.

“The Shelby County Bassmasters do an outstanding job every year with this activity. The children who participate in this outing truly look forward to it each year, and it exposes them to a new hobby that they might not otherwise get the opportunity to do,” said Jennifer Bruns, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters. “Being outdoors, getting fresh air, and learning about fishing is a neat experience for the children in the program, and for some of them, (it’s) the first time they have been exposed to the sport.”

Group activities are part of the mentoring program for children from at-risk homes. Currently, the Shelby & Darke County agency has 65 matches with a list of more than 20 children in need of an adult volunteer. Volunteers are required to see the children two times per month, offering support and fun, educational activities. It should be noted that match activities can be scheduled around a volunteer’s calendar, and offer a fantastic way to have a positive impact on youth in our community.

For information, call 492-7611.