Join us for a fun and low key fitness class from the comfort of your home! Kelli Nadeau from Foley Snap Fitness will guide us through a workout and talk about her experience as a Big and how exercise can make a BIG impact in your life! Please wear comfortable clothing for this virtual event. Matches will have the opportunity to interact with each other after the fitness class.
 
Please RSVP: Email Mary@BigDefenders.org by noon on November 6th. 
Trick or Treat: Visit Minnesota Truck Headquarters for an evening of Trunk or Treating fun! Many businesses and organizations in central MN are offering safe trick or treating events. Click here for other trick or treating events.
St. Cloud Kids and Parents Expo: The St. Cloud Kids and Parents Expo is full of safe, fun, indoor Halloween fun for families to enjoy including a trick-or-treat hour from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Other fun activities include a spooky experiment station, pumpkin painting, and a Halloween "make and take" craft, bounce castles, laser tag, face painting and more. Tickets are just $5.00 for adults and children ages 12 and under are FREE! Click here for more information.
OCTOBER 30TH IS CANDY CORN DAY!

Who knew? See if you can come up with new and creative ways to use candy corn. Or just eat it! Add the candy to popcorn for a spooktacular treat. Another delicious way to celebrate the day would be to layer gelatin, pudding or cakes with white, yellow and orange colors and flavors. Salty and sweet always pair well together, too. Add pretzels, candy corn, and nuts to make a snack mix.

Try this terrific candy corn cookie recipe. Whether you want to go whip up a batch or go and purchase a bag, go and enjoy the day by sharing some with friends and family. 
Our Community-Based Matches receive discounts at various businesses just for being a Match in our program. Click here to view where you can be receiving discounts together with your match discount card!
$8 ticket for Big and $8 ticket for Little.
$1 off admission for Big and Little during daytime hours of the corn maze.
Go Big for Kids' Sake is Presented By:
KARE 11 AND FEDERATED INSURANCE
#eyesUP PSA CHALLENGE

KARE 11 wants to challenge you to help reduce distracted driving in our communities by joining their #eyesUP Distracted Driving Campaign.

For the third year, high school students in the KARE 11 viewing area are being asked to take the #eyesUP High School PSA Challenge. High school students can do this individually or with their members of their household. This is a chance for them to use their voice, creativity, and storytelling skills to make their own Public Service Announcement (PSA) that could air on KARE 11! Any video making software can be used, just make sure not to use any third party or restricted use music. 
 
A committee of KARE 11 employees will review submitted PSAs and select 11 winners. Each of the 11 winning PSAs will then air on KARE 11 through the winter and into the spring of 2021.  Plus, the top three PSA’s will receive $1,100 to help promote distraction-free driving at their school.
 
A complete explanation of the contest rules and details can be found in the #eyesUP PSA Challenge Toolkit. The toolkit includes the submission form, examples of submissions we received last year, and a video with some great PSA production tips from KARE 11's Alicia Lewis, the champion behind the KARE 11 #eyesUP campaign. 

PSA submissions are due by Friday, November 13 at 1:00pm.
LITTLE BIG VIRTUAL ACADEMY
The purpose of the Little Big Virtual Academy is to keep Littles and Bigs connected during times of physically distancing. When matches might not be able meet in-person, they can continue to communicate and interact via phone and computer. The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota team has compiled a list of fun and interactive activities and resources for Littles and Bigs to do together- click here to link to the website!
PROGRAM STAFF CONTACT INFO
Please contact our staff if you have any questions regarding matches.

Ann Matvick, Program Director  
Ann@BigDefenders.org 320.258.4517
  
Jamie Lodermeier, Program Coordinator
Jamie@BigDefenders.org  320.258.4532
 
Kayla Meyer, Program Coordinatoor 
Kayla@BigDefenders.org 320.241.7996
 
Mary Bellefeuille, Program Coordinator 
Mary@BigDefenders.org  320.258.4538
 
Rebecca Fonss, Program Coordinator  
Rebecca@BigDefenders.org 320.258.4519
 
Robyn Rieland, Program Coordinator 
Robyn@BigDefenders.org  320.258.4512

Tasha Bruns-Notsch, Program Coordinator  
Tasha@BigDefenders.org  320.258.4516
Hey BIGS!! Do you know someone who would be a great mentor to a child in our community? Use the above Big Nomination graphic by sending it to them. You could message it, text it, print and hand deliver, or post it on their social media. Let them KNOW that you could see them as a BIG! We are now holding Info Sessions online via Zoom- let's create a waiting list of Bigs!
Listed below are several community resources.

MN Warm Line Peer Support Connection - WHO TO CALL. Lists numbers to call for questions related to COVID-19, mental health concerns or just to talk. Click here for Who To Call Phone Numbers List.

Free or Reduced Price Lunches for Kids - Several local businesses offering free or reduced-price meals to children. Please click here to see a complete list.

Food Relief Bags - Catholic Charities Emergency Services continues to provide access to food to those in need. Food relief bags will be available for pick-up at the locations below.

Closures and Cancellations - Many state and local government offices are restricting their office hours. Click here for more information.

Metro Bus - All Routes running normally. Click here for more information.

United Way 2-1-1 Resource Hotline - United Way is encouraging anyone who may be in need of assistance accessing food, or any other essential service, to dial 2-1-1 or text MNCOVID to 898-211. Click here for more information.

Local Business Information - Many businesses are closed or have reduced their hours. Some stores and restaurants are offering curbside pick up or delivery. Click here for more information.

Great River Library - The library is now open with limited hours and curbside pick up. Information on returning books, overdue books, registering for a library card and more! Click here for more information.

Local Information and Resources - Links to business, health and entertainment resources Visit Greater St. Cloud website.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MN | 320-253-1616 | BigDefenders.org