A smile can be put on the face of a child by their volunteer Big Brother or Big Sister.

“Anyone who feels they can put the time in” should try to become a Big Brother or Big Sister, said Sue Harbecke, case worker in the program.

The program has been in effect since 1971 and has grown throughout the years, Harbecke said. Seventy percent of the volunteers are NIU students who learn about the program through word of mouth and posters around campus, she added.

During the last 12-month period, there were 60 to 65 NIU student volunteers involved, Harbecke said.

Children aged 7 to 14 from single-parent families can be provided with a Big Brother or Big Sister for a 12-month period through the Family Service Agency in DeKalb.

Anyone interested is required to fill out an application, which is checked for references and placements by a case worker who supervises volunteers in the program.

After the application has been checked, an interview is held, Harbecke said. After the interview, the volunteer may be required to make a home visit to the child, she added.

The volunteer must then be recommended by one of the three case workers, Harbecke, Karen Airhart and Michelle Anderson. A case worker recommends the volunteer to the program director, Susan Peterson, who determines whether the volunteer may become a Big Brother or Big Sister, Harbecke said.

The whole application process takes 2 months.

Anyone who is interested in more information about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister can attend an orientation meeting at the Family Service Agency, located at 3131 Sycamore Rd. in DeKalb.

To find out when orientation meetings will be held, call the agency at 758-8614.