July 17, 2009
Friday

This pair is active, dynamic, creative and close. Clever Big Sister Jackie planned a wonderful first outing which both recalled easily, almost a year later, since being matched July 30th, 2008. "The first day we met, we hung out pretending to be tourists and asked the kind of questions tourists would ask. We went to the Lumber Jack show and just got to know each other," recounted LS Devon. Jackie remembered that day, "We took cameras and took a bunch of pictures; it was a blast. Our whole goal was to take as many pictures as we could of each other."

The two have continued doing that as part of their activities every month, and as you can see from the pictures Jackie shares with us here, they've had a ball. Big Sister Jackie plays softball, so she took Little Sister Devon to watch a game and that inspired Devon to try out for a team. Now the girls are both active supporters of each other. Jackie goes to help coach Devon's softball team and cheers her on, as well as giving her pitching lessons. Devon is so proud that her Big Sister is helping out with her softball team.

When Big Sister Jackie isn't working for the Ketchikan Police Department, she and Devon are often out walking Jackie's silky terrier, Stevie. If you see them, stop and say "Hi," and learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Devon likes her Big Sister, Jackie, because "she's fun to be around. She understands me and she's easy to talk to." Devon knows they'll be life-long friends.

Jackie says, "I was skeptical at first about becoming a Big Sister; I had a weird schedule and I didn't think I had enough time to give," but a friend talked me into it. Now she says, "I like the connection I have with Devon and I know I've made a difference in her life. She used to struggle in school and now she's doing so well. Devon is a great kid, involved in a lot of activities." Clearly, Devon and Jackie have a wonderful friendship and we all wish them another year of fun and joy!

On the Web:

Match of the Month

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Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska