For Quincy Johnson, hanging out with his "big brother" Chuck is the highlight of each week.

"Quincy and I have been matched for three years. We'll go play basketball a lot, we'll go bowling, play checkers and pool sometimes," said Chuck Dow, Big Brother volunteer.

The pair were matched three years ago through Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Ozarks and have formed a very special bond.

"You get more out of the experience than you ever actually give. It's such an incredible and rewarding experience to develop that friendship and then watch that child grow," said Dow.

But lately, the organization that matched the pair is struggling to find enough male volunteers to for a growing list of boys in need of mentorship.

"Right now we have about 100 boys that sit on that wait list and that's the biggest it's ever been. It's so big for us that we have had to close that list off because we don't want kids sitting on that wait list for a year before they get matched," said Ashley French, Executive Director for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Ozarks.

Directors say they've seen about a 40% increase in boys signing up for the program over the past year.

"Families just continue to struggle. We know the poverty issue in Springfield is there, it's been there for a while so they're looking for resources," said French.

"The more we inform them the more need is going to be there. Families just need that extra support, and that's not really going away," she explained.

At Big Brothers Big Sisters their goal is to provide that extra support, which can often times be life changing for everyone involved.

"They can not only give them hope for something different if they don't have it but they're teaching them great things and exposing them to really cool activities that they might not have had a chance to get," French explained.

"There's so many guys out there who are probably on the fence and feeling the same way I did three years ago. They know they want to give back but don't know if they have enough time. You'll find the time, make the commitment. These kids need mentorship, they need good people in the community to step up and volunteer," said Dow.

To be a big brother, you just have to spend about an hour a week with your little brother. Activities don't have to cost money. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks has many community partners who offer deals and discounts to 'bigs and littles' on activities done together.

To become a big brother, fill out an online application at http://www.bigbro.com or call our the local office at 417-889-9136 to sign up today.

You can also attend one of several upcoming volunteer orientation sessions:

Wednesday, May 31st

6:00 PM

BBBSO Office

Wednesday, June 7th

11:30 AM

Hurts Donuts Downtown

Tuesday, June 13th

5:30 PM

BBBSO Office

Wednesday, June 21st

6:00 PM

BBBSO Office