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When Kamarion was a first-grader, he met a person who would help make each week a little better.
“I didn’t know you because you were old,” said Kamarion. “You’re still old, but now, you’re my friend, Jeff.”
Jeff Hays is Kamarion’s Lunch Buddy at Sunshine Elementary School. Each week, the Simmons Bank commercial banker brings games and mentorship to the third-grader, spending 30 minutes with him at lunch on Wednesdays.His consistent commitment to showing up for Kamarion, as well as the positive relationship he’s built with his Lunch Buddy, earned him the honor as 2023 Lunch Buddy of the Year from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks.
“Jeff initially served as a Lunch Buddy before the pandemic and has enthusiastically returned to continue this valuable role,” said Maggie Riggs, Vice President of Programs at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks. “Jeff’s dedication shines through in his incredible relationship with his Lunch Buddy student.”
Each week, Kamarion and Jeff talk, play games and learn from each other. If Kamarion’s having a hard week at school, Jeff will connect to support him by asking questions that prompt positive thinking. Then, he’ll follow up the next week, encouraging Kamarion to make progress with his choices and academics.
Jeff’s commitment to Kamarion makes him an exceptional mentor, says Dr. Tracy Daniels, principal at Sunshine Elementary. “For our students, the more positive role models and positive relationships with adults, the better,” said Dr. Daniels. “Lunch Buddies like Jeff provide mentorship and ongoing support for students in so many ways, which helps them become success-ready students.”
In addition to his time at Sunshine Elementary, Jeff previously mentored students with Big Brothers Big Sisters in the Dallas area. Now, he serves as a member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Board of Directors.
But each Wednesday, he knows where he wants to be: investing in Kamarion’s learning and life at Sunshine Elementary.
“For the amount of time you give up, you get so much back,” said Hays. “The commitment is such a small amount of time, but the impact is so large. If there’s just a little bit I can do to make one student be a little bit more successful in life, along with their teachers and their parents, then our whole community will benefit. Be a Lunch Buddy; change a community.”
Jeff Hays is a Lunch Buddy, an ongoing volunteer program and partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks and Springfield Public Schools. To be a Lunch Buddy, contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks and submit a Volunteer Application with Springfield Public Schools.
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