Big Brothers Big Sisters Quesnel has a new executive director.
Although she started at Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) on a part-time basis in March, the new director, Lorene Pulles, officially became full-time in July.
As executive director, Pulles matches Bigs with Littles in the traditional BBBS program (where kids, or Littles, are matched with adults, or Bigs, to spent time together once a week), she applies for funding, and she does some other administrative work as well. She also works as a case manager for the people currently participating in the tradition BBBS program.
Pulles says she enjoys the work, calling it a “balance” between working with people and administrative work.
“This is a good fit, because I still get to do some of the pieces like looking for the funding and sort of having that challenge, and at the same time I get to do front line work with the bigs and littles.”
She’s been in social work since 1988. She has worked with Aboriginal communities, at a men’s correctional facility, she’s done probation work with young offenders, and she’s been involved with the North Cariboo Aboriginal Family Program Society. She’s also a foster parent.
READ MORE: Column: Big Brothers Big Sisters bursary awarded
Pulles has lived in Quesnel for the past 11 years, but she is originally from P.E.I. She says she attended the Boys and Girls Club there, which is similar to BBBS in that it provides children with a safe place to go and positive mentors.
“I grew up in poverty and didn’t really have a whole lot of positive role models, so I joined the Boys and Girls Club and it was, I think, pretty life changing for me,” says Pulles. “It gave me some positive values, and then that was sort of one of the factors that probably led me to go into social work.”
As well as the traditional BBBS program, the local branch also runs several in-school mentoring programs, where they serve approximately 140-200 children and teens each year.
Right now, Pulles says, they’re down on Bigs. Approximately 15 boys and 13 girls are still waiting to be matched with a Big. Anyone interested in volunteering with BBBS in Quesnel can go to Quesnel.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca for more information.
heather.norman@quesnelobserver.com
Like us on Facebook