Big Brothers/Sisters could use
more help; golf tourney on tap

Aug. 8, 2018

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. --- In the time it takes you to take a good nap, you can make a great difference in someone's life.

Two hours. That would be two hours a week.

That's a good trade, don't you think?

The Missouri Valley Chapter of Big Brothers/Big Sisters could always use more volunteers to share just a small amount of their time to help our area young people, ages 6-17, who need it most.

"It's about helping a kid get some good, positive role models and positive reinforcement," said Mike Wensing, former board member of the Missouri Valley Chapter. "It's just something that can really help them along the way.

"For a lot of them, it's the one big thing they get to do during the week, it's something they can look forward to."

Wensing, 66, formerly served as a Big Brother himself and he's enjoyed another fun aspect with the organization --- golf.

He was on the ground floor of a tournament to benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters started by Don Libby --- who was much better known as Bones, as in Bones Restaurant and Lounge in the Alley --- in the mid 1990s.

"You come out and play golf and have a good time and raise money for Big Brothers and Big Sisters," Wensing said. "That's what it's all about."

The 24th annual tournament will be held Friday at Oak Hills, with lunch being served at noon followed by a 1 p.m. tee off. If interested in entering a team in the four-person scramble or in another level of participation/sponsorship, please call 634-3290.

Wensing has only missed one of these since it started --- and he'll be here Friday --- with that one coming last year to attend his niece's wedding. He was head golf professional at Jefferson City Country Club from 1991-2013, and now lives in Quincy, Ill., to be near his mother.

He urges people to at least consider being a part of Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

"It really doesn't matter what you do with these kids, it's more about the time," Wensing said. "They get one-on-one focus and in a lot of these families, they just don't get that."

It's about time, just one or two hours a week. And for just a little of it, you'll likely get even more out of your experience as a volunteer.

"You absolutely get something out of it," Wensing said, "that's why they keep doing it."

Loeffler's Link

Area golfers will come out swinging for the annual Missouri Valley Big Brothers/Big Sisters Tournament on Friday at Oak Hills.