Blake and Micah Melnick saw the process of the foster system up close and personal when Micah’s parents decided to become foster parents. This experience led the Melnicks to create the BigHouse Foundation.
BigHouse is a “foundation that connects the needs of families with the generosity of the community through the love of Jesus Christ,” according to the BigHouse website.
Over the past six years, BigHouse has grown and offers volunteer options to students looking to make a difference.
BigHouse has a two-tier volunteer program that gives students two different volunteer options. Students can volunteer with Clothes Closet and Kid’s Night Out.
“We have great options for students who are looking to volunteer with BigHouse,” Micah said. “Whether students are helping sort clothes or teaching the foster children about Jesus, the fact that they are willing to help and volunteer is a wonderful thing.”
Clothes Closet helps alleviate the burden foster families might come across when their foster children do not have appropriate clothes. Clothes Closet accepts donations throughout the year of clothes ranging from baby to teen sizes. Volunteers are welcome to come during the day on their own time to help with a multitude of activities such as sorting clothes or assisting a foster child with finding the perfect outfit.
Kid’s Night Out is a program that provides monthly respite events for foster children so their foster parents can take a break to do things such as run errands or go on a date with their spouse. BigHouse has a team of volunteers who commit to volunteering at each Kid’s Night Out event throughout the semester. The program requires a slightly longer time commitment than Clothes Closet, but is a great way to really get to know the foster children and their families.
“Volunteering at BigHouse’s Clothes Closet was a great experience with a friendly staff and a great mission of giving clothes to children in need,” said Holden Katechis, senior in building science. “What was really great about volunteering there was the flexibility. As a college student, finding time to volunteer can be difficult to fit into your schedule. BigHouse made it easy to just call and see if they needed help that day. Overall, I had a great time volunteering at BigHouse and encourage others to go help out there as well."
Micah said her favorite part about being involved with BigHouse is getting to know the children and families within the foster care system.
“I think getting to sit in on adoption proceedings is probably one of the most wonderful experiences I have had with BigHouse,” Micah said. “Seeing a child get adopted into a loving family just really brings it all full circle.”
In March, BigHouse will launch its first BigHouse Bus. The bus will be traveling to various counties that do not have a BigHouse of their own, offering clothes to foster families in the surrounding areas.
“We are really excited about the BigHouse Bus,” Micah said. “The bus will basically be a moving clothes closet for foster families who do not live in Auburn. We haven’t had anything like this before and being able to reach foster families outside of Lee County is really amazing.”
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