Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central PA launched its third “Bigs in Blue” program in Lancaster County on Monday, introducing students from Park Elementary School to their new mentors, or “Bigs,” from the Columbia Borough Police Department.
The officers met their “Littles” in the school’s conference room of the school, introduced one by one by Kylee Reader, Bigs in Blue program coordinator.
Third grader Paris was ecstatic to meet her Big, Sgt. Holly Arndt. First grader Arian met his Big, Officer Nate Miller, with open arms. There is one more pairing to come: Officer Amy Kuhrmann will meet her Little, a fifth grader named June, next week.
The meeting consisted of a contract signing, decorating friendship keychains and creating police badges, and a snack of juice and donuts.
Bigs in Blue is a national initiative developed by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. It aims to connect youth with local law enforcement to build healthy relationships.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central PA launched its first Bigs in Blue program in 2016. It has partnered with 17 local police departments and state police in all. The other two Bigs in Blue programs in Lancaster County are with the East Hempfield and West Hempfield police departments.
The Columbia Borough Police Department looks for ways to interact and connect with young people, Chief Jack Brommer said. The school district contacted the department about taking part, Big Brothers Big Sisters came in and explained the program and the relationship blossomed from there.
Sgt. Arndt and Officers Miller and Kuhrmann all said they are eager to work with local youth and build relationships. The goal is to bridge the gap between the police and the community and to form bonds with the “Littles,” Arndt said.
After the meeting, the officers were given a brief rundown of next steps. Reader said she’d like the officers to meet with their Littles at least 20 minutes twice a month. Meetings will be tracked through Google Forms.
Previously known as Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central PA changed its name last month when it absorbed Big Brothers Big Sisters of York & Adams Counties.
With the acquisition, the nonprofit’s service region now encompasses seven counties: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York.
