If you care about other people, are willing to share your time and have a big heart, then you’re qualified to be a mentor. That’s how my passion for mentoring developed while spending three years as a Big Brother to middle school students in Louisville, Kentucky.

Listening and sharing things I’ve learned with a young person, and in turn, learning from them made such an impact on me that I decided to join the Big Brothers Big Sisters board of directors for our local chapter. Naturally, I was thrilled to hear that the Arby’s Foundation is partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters to address challenges we’re facing today in recruiting enough Bigs to pair with Littles.

Big Brothers Big Sisters currently serves 150,000 kids nationwide each year. But because of a shortage in adult mentors, the process of connecting a Big Brother or Big Sister with a Little in many locations is delayed a year or more, forcing over 30,000 kids to wait in line to be matched with a Big.

That’s why the Arby’s Foundation is partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters — because even one kid waiting on a mentor is one too many.

Many Arby’s team members, like myself, have a history in supporting this program already, but it’s crucial we stay involved to share our understanding and experiences with others who might be interested. By sharing our stories, we can help eliminate common misconceptions about the program.

You don’t need a special talent or qualification to become a Big Brother or Big Sister. At the end of the day, it’s simply about showing up, caring and coaching that makes a key difference in kids’ lives.

Colleagues, friends and family, let’s End The Wait and make a difference in a child’s life. Go to TheBigWait.org to learn more on how you can contribute to mentorship today.