It is a national initiative with a brand new connection in San Antonio.
"Bigs In Blue" is a new way for Bexar County deputies to protect and serve.
The venture allows deputies and staff who want to help kids in need of a friend provide that support with the help of the local Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.
Wednesday, six “littles” from Martin Luther King Academy attended a kickoff event with their new “bigs.”
The teams signed commitments to be true to the program’s goals and then got right on the business of having fun.
While sharing pizza and games, both groups agreed the program will be a valuable experience.
Deputy Michelle Blum said she signed up to help because her special needs son benefited from the program when he was young.
"It was my turn to give back to what they gave my son when he was growing up," Blum said.
Little Sister Elena Navarrette said she knows staying on the right path in life is important because she has first-hand experience with violence.
"They shot up my uncle's house and my cousins were sleeping in the living room. The bullet went right over them and they could have died," Navarrette said.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is always recruiting lifesaving volunteers to provide one on one assistance to children. For more information, visit their website.