Corinne Coulson doesn't want a little of your time. She wants a lot of it, about a year's worth.

Coulson, who's director of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Butler County program at the Butler County Family YMCA, 329 N. Washington St., for the last six years, is looking for volunteers to commit to a least a year of pairing up and hanging out with one of the 50 youths in the program.

“I think as with any volunteer group, you have to find volunteers. It is not specific with us,” said Coulson. “We want to get volunteers that care, that are looking for a long-lasting volunteer opportunity.”

“We are obviously not a one-day thing. We are looking for at least a one-year commitment,” Coulson concluded.

Autumn Weaver of Zelienople can beat that easily. She's in her fourth year and with her second little sister with the program.

“With my new little sister, we've been matched for a year this Friday,” said Weaver. She previously had a little sister for three years.

“When she turned 16, she got a job,” said Weaver of her earlier little sister. “Her interests were on school and she did not have the time to meet with Big Brothers Big Sisters as often.”

Coulson said volunteers for the program are checked out thoroughly.

“Volunteers have to be at least 18, show a desire and want to be part of the program. They fill out an application, and we ask for at least four references,” Coulson said.

“We do background checks. If they've lived out of state, we do FBI background checks. We do child-abuse clearances, there are interviews in the office at the Butler Y or the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township. And there are questionnaires, about an applicant's interests, hobbies,” Coulson added.

That questionnaire, which she had to fill out again when being paired with a new little sister, helped match Weaver up with her current little sister, Olivia, 11.

“Olivia's interests are riding bikes, art. She loves nature and being outside. We do a lot of hikes. She likes swimming a lot,” said Weaver.

“You have to meet with your match six to 10 hours a month. But it's a flexible schedule. They can do a variety of activities: go to the movies, go to the Y and play basketball. Bigs and littles get a partial Y membership, you have to be together to use it,” said Coulson.

“It doesn't have to be something organized. You can take your little grocery shopping and teach them money management,” said Coulson.

“We've gone to her house and just hung out and played games. She's come to my house and we've baked cookies for the holidays,” said Weaver.

“They're looking for someone to talk to and look up to. They're looking for a friend,” said Coulson.

The children in the program are between 6 and 17 and live in Butler County, said Coulson. They have to go through the intake process as do their parents or guardian.

“Parents or guardians come to us with children, as do Children and Youth Services and school guidance counselors,” Coulson said.

“I would say if they are looking for any way to make a difference in a child's life and for a volunteer opportunity they will remember themselves and that's a long-lasting thing, they should definitely consider us,” said Coulson.

Weaver said she became interested in the program partly because her sister was in a Big Brother Big Sister program in another county.

“Just seeing her act with her little sister and the rapport they had, I decided to do it in Butler County,” said Weaver.

“I do feel that this is something you can do for the community,” said Weaver. “I don't feel it is time-consuming, I find it personally rewarding when I see the kids accomplishing things growing up and maturing. That is rewarding in itself.”

“I consider it training for if I ever have kids. In addition, I come from a family of four siblings. I know what it is like to have brothers and sisters,” she said.

Corrinne Coulson said people interested in volunteering for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program can go to the YMCA website, www.bcymca.org/bbbs, for more information or call her at 724-287-4733. She said the Y is accepting volunteers year-round.