August 14, 2009

Giving Time: Antoinette Garner Awaits a Little Sister or Brother

As the City’s volunteer coordinator, Antoinette Garner hears a lot of heartwarming success stories about volunteerism. Last month, she became a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“It was all those stories I heard from people making a difference in a children’s lives,” said Garner, who also works as an organizational development specialist in the Workforce Services Department. “I knew it was something I wanted to do.”

This is the first in an occasional series on City of Arlington employees volunteering their time in their neighborhoods and schools.
The first stories will capture Garner’s journey to becoming a Big Sister in the program.

At the moment, she is awaiting placement of her sister or brother. As part of Big Brothers Big Sisters school program, she’ll spend one hour per week with her sister or brother.

 Garner was recently interviewed by Big Brothers Big Sisters staff for about an hour where they asked about family ties, likes and dislikes, and activities.
“They use all that information to make a good match for you,” Garner says.

She was given a 40-page Volunteer Training Guide that gives information on expectations, how to reinforce children in a positive manner, and developmental characteristics at certain ages.

With all that out the way, she’s now in a waiting game.

“There’s this great anticipation,” Garner said. “Right now, I’m just anxious to get that phone call setting up my first meeting.”