Lunch Buddy Mentor

Give Back in a “Big” Way. Become a Lunch Buddy today!

Volunteer Opportunity: Lunch Buddy for the 2025-2026 School Year

Locations: R.K. Finn Ryan Road Elementary in Florence, Jackson Street School in Northampton, Wildwood Elementary in Amherst

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County is recruiting volunteers for our Lunch Buddies program, which is an in-school site-based mentorship opportunity. A Lunch Buddy is a volunteer adult mentor and friend who has lunch every week with a child during their school day. You will have your own space to eat, talk, and play games with the same child each week. It is a weekly 30 minute commitment for the duration of the school year. A variety of support is provided, including an on-site case manager to use as a guide and reference point.

Once enrolled, you will be matched with a youth/Lunch Buddy based on personality and mutual interests. The goal is to provide each youth with an additional positive adult that can be a consistent presence in their lives and give them something extra to look forward to in their school day. You do not need to be an “expert” on working with youth; having an adult show up ready to engage and learn about them goes a long way for youth who may benefit from additional one-to-one attention.

Inquire today or start by filling out our Lunch Buddy application. After submitting an application, a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County Case Manager will reach out to you to schedule an interview and inform you of the next steps of enrollment.

Contact Us

For any questions regarding Lunch Buddies, please contact BBBS of Hampshire County’s Program Supervisor, Miranda Maguire:

mmaguire@chd.org

Or

(413) 478 8547

Mission:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County is a mentorship organization that thoughtfully matches adult volunteers (“Bigs”) with a youth in their community (“Littles”). Our mission is to support one-toone mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

We operate under the belief that each child has unlimited potential. Our goal is to help foster positive relationships that have a lasting effect on the lives of young people, and we know from experience that these relationships leave an impact on our adult volunteers as well! All relationships are supported by a staff of professional case managers along with parents and caregivers.

Kids need mentors today more than ever, and we rely on volunteers like you to continue our work.