Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sarnia-Lambton has made the difficult decision to freeze its male waitlist as over 70 local boys sit without a mentor, issuing an urgent call for men in the community to step up.
Effective April 1, 2026, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sarnia-Lambton is temporarily closing its community-based waitlist for male youth. The agency will not be accepting new inquiries for boys until further notice as it grapples with a significant backlog of local children needing support.
The decision stems from an urgent shortage of male volunteers. Currently, more than 70 male youth in Sarnia-Lambton are waiting for one-to-one Big Brother mentors. The pause is intended to ensure the agency can focus its resources on finding matches for those already in the system.
Executive Director Kaylen Burgess described the move as a difficult but necessary step to maintain the quality of their mentoring. Burgess noted that the agency is committed to providing safe, high-quality support for every young person.
"This is a pause," Burgess said. "We will focus our time and resources on the more than 70 boys and young men already waiting so they receive the consistent, professionally supported mentorship they deserve."
The agency hopes this announcement serves as a clear call to action for the community. By stopping new intakes, staff can dedicate more time to safely recruiting, screening, and supporting new male mentors to clear the existing list.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is now urgently seeking male volunteers aged 18 and older from across Sarnia and Lambton County. These mentors provide the consistent presence needed to build confidence and improve school outcomes for local youth.
Community members can help by:
Becoming a Big Brother mentor by applying through the website or calling 519-336-0460.
Spreading the word through workplaces, clubs, and social circles.
Partnering with the agency to host recruitment and training events.
The waitlist will remain closed until the number of boys waiting decreases significantly. Beyond volunteering, the organization is also seeking community partners and donors to help expand program capacity through financial support and outreach.