Twenty children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana program got an early holiday surprise Thursday from the Academy Sports and Outdoors store in Lake Charles.

Academy provided Big Brothers Big Sisters SWLA with $3,750 — enough to give each child a $187 gift card to purchase whatever they wanted in the store. The gift cards were given to boys and girls who are waiting to be matched with a big brother or sister.

Gavyn Carlin, 9, said he was excited to find the airsoft gun he wanted in stock. His mother, Trish Downs of Sulphur, was overwhelmed with the generosity.

“It’s so exciting; it’s such a blessing,” she said. “Being a single mother, I just can’t tell you the joy that this brings me. This is all possible because people really do care.”

Downs said she is eager for Gavyn to be paired with a big brother who shares his love of fishing, football and video games. She said the need for a big brother is great because Gavyn’s older brother and role model, Lynn, died of a heart attack earlier this year at the age of 30.

“They fished, hunted and gamed together, and (Lynn) just encouraged him to be the best he can be,” Downs said.

Erin Davison, Big Brothers Big Sisters SWLA executive director, said the organization has partnered with Academy Sports and Outdoors for the past five years. She said Academy believes in the power of mentoring, with some employees having participated in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

“This is just an opportunity for Academy to say, ‘Hey, we see you, and what you guys are doing is good work,’ ” Davison said.

Davison said the giving by Academy has evolved with the needs. The economic struggles associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricanes Laura and Delta led the company to provide clothes, backpacks and sports supplies last year. A Father’s Day event was sponsored in June and provided 20 big and little brothers each with $100 gift cards to use in the store.

Ormise Scott, store director at the Academy in Lake Charles, said the store chain is passionate about connecting with communities and investing in the future of area youth. He said children need role models to guide them.

“Everybody wants to be successful, but they may not know what success looks like,” Scott said. “Having a mentor to give a fresh perspective is needed for all of us.”

Davison said Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors and serves families while children wait to be matched with a big brother or sister.

“This allows us to get to know them and get to know their personalities so we can find a volunteer who meets their hobbies and energy levels,” she said. “Once they’re matched, they have a trust and bond, based on what they like. Those relationships are stable and positive from the beginning, and we see how that connection builds self-esteem and self-worth.”

Scott said he hopes this effort will encourage local residents to volunteer their time as a big brother or sister.

“The children are here; they just need someone to make the sacrifice to join them,” he said.

To learn more about enrolling or volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana, call 478-5437.

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Online: bbbsswla.org