The Match Discount Partners list has been recently updated! Check out all of the great ideas for your Match here! Here are two of our newest match discount partners!

St. Cloud COP House Back to School Events - The St. Cloud COP (Community Outpost) House is hosting two back-to-school events. On Monday, Aug. 28, they are offering free haircuts for kids at the house on 600 13th St. S in St. Cloud. Boys are from noon-4 p.m. and girls from 2:30-6 p.m., and space is limited so come early. On Tuesday, Aug. 29 from 3-5 p.m. they are hosting a backpack giveaway. Each backpack contains school supplies and will be handed out until they run out. The child receiving the backpack must be present to get a backpack. Follow the group on Facebook for more details!

St. Joseph Lions Brat Sale - The St. Joseph Y2K Lions Club is hosting a brat sale fundraiser to benefit BBBS of Central Minnesota! On Friday and Saturday, Aug. 25-26, the group will be selling brats outside the St. Joseph Meat Market (26 1st Ave NW, St. Joseph), and all proceeds come back to BBBS. The sale runs from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday in St. Joe.

Paynesville Air Show - Head to the Paynesville airport on Saturday, Aug. 26, for the Friends of the Paynesville Airport Air Show. There are free air shows at 1 and 4 p.m. that day as well as concessions and vendors with food and goods for sale. There will also be airplane rides available for a fee. For a full schedule and more information, check out the 2023 event website.

Get Artsy at Oak Station - On Wednesday, Aug. 23, head to Oak Station Coffee & Cone in Freeport for a night of art and tasty treats! From 6-8 p.m. bring your favorite art supplies for a creative evening. All ages are welcome and there will be a loosely guided direction for artistic inspiration. The event costs $5 per person and includes a treat, sticker, and access to art supplies if needed. Check out the Facebook event page for more details.

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration - Come together with community members to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the first-ever Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Health & Wellness Fair! The fair runs from 1-7 p.m. at Lake George on Friday, Sept. 15, and will celebrate Hispanic culture with food, music, dance, children's activities, local health and social resources, and more. Click here for more info.

Dino Dig at Wilson Park - Budding paleontologists have the opportunity to take part in a 'Dino Dig' with the St. Cloud Park and Rec department and St. Cloud State University! On Saturday, Sept. 23, children ages 4-6 can participate in a mini 'dino dig' and learn more about fossils and dinosaurs! The event starts at 9 a.m. at Wilson Park in St. Cloud. There is a limit of 25 participants, so get more info and register here.

Bannockburn Farm Fun - Every Monday and Tuesday through the month of August, community-based matches are welcome to head to Bannockburn Farm in Cold Spring to play in the dirt! The farm is open from 5:30-7:30 p.m., and if matches come to weed or help harvest veggies for an hour, they will receive a $5 token to spend at the vegetable stand. Interested matches should text Kelly at 320-249-3050 and let her know your name, that you're with BBBS, and what day and time you plan to come! The farm is located at 20212 Edom Road, Cold Spring, MN 56320.

Stars & S'Mores - On Saturday, Nov. 4, the St. Cloud State College of Science and Engineering is partnering with St. Cloud Park & Rec to host Stars & S'mores. From 8-9:30 p.m., kids of all ages and families can come learn about the night sky, make your own planisphere, and look through a telescope to see the stars and planets. The cost is $5 and pre-registration is required. Click here for more info or to register.

End of Summer Kids' Series - Summer is coming to an end, but there's still more fun to be had! Marcus Theaters in Waite Park is hosting an End of Summer Kids' Film Series, with family friendly movies for just $3! Catch Sing 2 Aug. 18-24, The Secret Life of Pets Aug. 25-31, and Trolls World Tour Sept. 1-7. Click here for more info or to buy tickets.

Weekly Events at Art in Motion - Art in Motion - which is a part of the Boho Cafe in Holdingford - has free weekly events in the art studio or on the patio. Check their calendar for full details and a calendar of events!

Cloud Coffee Fest -The second annual Cloud Coffee Fest, sponsored by Kinder Coffee Lab, is coming up this September! On Saturday, Sept. 9, join Kinder and other area coffee houses for coffee, classes, food, games, and more in the Kinder parking lot. The festival runs 9 a.m.- 2p.m. and is free admission with food, coffee, and apparel for purchase. Check out their website for details!

Rock the Riverside - Every Thursday now through Sept. 7, head to the Riverside Terrace in Sauk Rapids for Rock the Riverside! Each week, local bands will play free concerts on a stage that overlooks the Mississippi River, and there will be food trucks there with food and desserts for purchase. Click here for more information.

Movie Under the Stars - On Saturday, Sept. 9, grab a lawn chair and a blanket and head to Whitney Park to watch a movie! Yard games and inflatables will be available starting at 7 p.m., and at 8 p.m. Top Gun: Maverick will play! Concessions will be available for purchase. This event is free and open to everyone! Click here for more information.

Minnesota Scoop Passport - After scooping snow all winter, scoop something more fun - and better tasting - this summer! Sign up for the free Minnesota Scoop Passport for a tour of summer across Minnesota. Check in at participating ice cream shops for deals and discounts! Check in now through Sept. 4 to take advantage of the tasty deals! Click here for more information.

Park & Rec Fall Fest - On Friday, Oct. 20, head to Riverside Park in St. Cloud for the St. Cloud Park & Recreation's Fall Fest! From 4-7 p.m. enjoy a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, pumpkin and face painting, and more! This event is free and family friendly. Click here for more information.

State Park Passes at the Library - The St. Cloud Public Library is one of a handful of regional libraries that has Minnesota State Park passes available to checkout. The passes are available at the circulation desk, and are good for seven days. The passes are available to individuals or families with limited income to access Minnesota's state parks. The Foley and Little Falls public libraries also have a limited number of passes available to checkout. Click here for more info.

Tri-CAP Help for Families - If you or anyone you know is struggling to fulfil basic needs - transportation, paying bills, finding food, etc. - check out the Tri-CAP website. Tri-CAP (Tri-County Action Program) can provide assistance for basic needs, self sufficiency, building stability and more. Click here for more info.

Fare for All Food Distribution - Fare for All food distribution, which sells fruits, veggies, and frozen meats, will be distributing from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29. The distribution site will be Salem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud. Everyone is welcome, and cash, credit, debit, and EBT cards are accepted. Click here for more info.

Rays of Hope Day - Save the date! On Oct. 7, Bri's Lodge will host the Rays of Hope Day at the Sartell Community Center. The day will include a pickleball tournament, memorial walk, food trucks and more. Check out the Facebook event for more details and to register.

QueerConnect Monthly Meetups - QueerConnect Youth events are designed to help connect people in the LGBTQIA+ community. On the third Monday of every month, local middle and high school students are welcome at the QueerConnect Monthly Meetup. The meetup takes place from 5-8 p.m. at the St. Cloud COP House at 600 13th St. S. Follow St. Cloud Pride on Facebook or check out the website for more info.

Lake George Boat Rental - Do you want to get out on the water right here in St. Cloud? Rent a paddle boat at Lake George! Paddle boats, canoes and paddle boards are available to rent for $10 per hour from 3-8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday through Sept. 9. Click here for more information.

Free Meals for Kids - Free nutritious meals for kids 18 and under are just one click away. Download the Free Meals for Kids mobile app to help families and kids find free meals at schools and other sites around Minnesota. Click here for more information.

Kids Ride Free All Summer - The U-Go Free Summer Youth Program allows youth ages 17 and younger to ride Metro Bus Fixed Routes free. The program includes ConneX in Sartell. No registration or pass required. Tell the Bus Operator you are using the U-Go Free Summer Youth Program. Free how-to-ride training is available to everyone through the Travel Training program. Please click here for more information.

Stoney Brook Farm - Stoney Brook Farm in Foley recently announced that its corn maze theme for 2023 is Dinosaurs! The maze will be open from Sept. 16 through Oct. 29 on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. as well as MEA weekend (Oct. 19 and 20). There will also be a Fat Tire & Mountain Bike Ride on Oct. 14 from 5 p.m. to dark and Flashlight Night on Oct. 28. Click here for more information.

Save the date! Join staff from BBBS of Central MN on Wednesday, Sept. 6, as we take over the taps at Beaver Island Brewing! From 5-7 p.m. that day, we'll be signing up new Bigs and helping you unwind with a local beer. All tips, $1 per pint and $3 per growler goes back to BBBS, so bring a friend! (This event is 21+) Let us know if you're coming via the Facebook event!

It's back-to-school season in Central Minnesota, but so much learning happens outside of the classroom. This fall, BBBS of Central Minnesota needs to recruit 100 new adult mentors by Sept. 15! There are currently more than 160 kids on the waiting list for a mentor, so we need your help. You can teach a local youth to fish, play an instrument, change a tire, draw - just a few hours each month would be a BIG deal to these waiting youth! Sign up to be a mentor here or contact Emmitt@BigDefenders.org today!

Show off your Pride and support BBBS with this BBBS Pride T-shirt! BBBS of Central Minnesota has a limited number of Pride shirts for sale. The T-shirts are $15 each and come in black or white, and are available in sizes small, medium, large, or extra large. Shirts will be available for pickup in late July at the BBBS St. Cloud office. Email Leah@BigDefenders.org to secure your shirt today!

Show your support for BBBS of Central Minnesota to everyone in your neighborhood and help us recruit new mentors with a branded yard sign! Email Emmitt@BigDefenders.org if you're interested in putting a sign in your yard or stop by the St. Cloud office today to pick one up! (The signs measure two feet wide by 1 1/2 feet tall and come with a metal stake to keep it in the ground.)

Every time you shop, your spare change can help to support local youth! When you sign up today to donate on the BBBS of Central Minnesota website, you can round up every purchase on the credit card of your choosing. Every time you swipe that card, the total is rounded up to the nearest dollar - and that extra change stays right here in Central Minnesota! Your extra change could make a BIG difference to local youth - give it a try!

Have you ever thought about being a Big? Do you know someone who would be a great Big? BBBS of Central Minnesota is looking for 10 mentors to be a part of the Bigs on Campus initiative at St. Cloud State, St. Cloud Tech & Community College, and the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University for Fall 2023. Meet with your mentee twice a month for an hour at a time at SCSU, SCTCC, or CSB/SJU and help them get accustomed to life on a college campus! Click here for more information or to sign up to be part of the Bigs on Campus program!

Welcome to a world of fun, learning, and resources - The Little Big Virtual Academy!

The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota team has compiled a list of fun and interactive activities and resources for Littles and Bigs to do together (either in-person or virtually). Click here to check it out!

Please visit our BBBS Website to view resources and information for parents/guardians & Bigs including mentoring videos and parenting resources. We also have an extensive listing of community resources including tutors, food and housing assistance, and mental health resources. BigDefenders.org/resources

In addition, we also list past issues of the Big Happenings on our website. Please click here to access past issues.

Do you wish you could do more to support your local community and neighbors? United Way of Central Minnesota has a variety of volunteer opportunities available throughout the area! This website shows volunteer opportunities ranging from working with animal shelters to local youth to working with the elderly at local care facilities. Check it out and start giving back to your community!

Are you interested in a career in health care, or just looking to give back to your community? Become a Junior Volunteer at CentraCare! You can learn about career options, meet new people, and gain valuable skills - all while helping patients at the St. Cloud Hospital. Click here for more information or to apply! (Volunteers must be 14 or older.)

If you've got big goals and you're looking for the right job to achieve them, consider joining Career Solutions' Job Club. Job Club meets every Thursday from 10:30 a.m.-Noon and is open to anyone who is job searching. Job seekers must register to attend. Please click here for more information or to register.

Higher Works Collaborative in St. Cloud works to advance the lives and livelihoods of African Americans in Central Minnesota. They offer tutoring and classes to help prepare middle and high schoolers for life after high school. Please click here for more information.

Minnesota Afterschool Advance helps Minnesota families who meet income requirements use the powerful but underutilized Minnesota K-12 Education Tax Credit to help them pay for educational afterschool programs like tutoring, music lessons, and art classes. Please click here to apply.

Career Solutions helps Central Minnesota find a job or career that's right for them. The WIOA Young Adult Program can help assess future careers, assess skills and interests and assist with job searches. Please click here for more information.