ROCKPORT – It takes $1,000 to change the life of a child, according to Gwendolyn Hudson of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Mid-Maine. This week Camden Fire Department changed a life — and Bowled for Kids’ Sake.

At least, the on-call members bowled at Oakland Park Bowling in Rockport. The regular crew stayed closer to Camden, while a few others practiced firefighter training at the middle school during the Saturday, April 8 event.

For the second consecutive year, the department raised money for this organization. Two months ago, the crew initiated their fundraising goal of $500, along with a gentle nudging for other fire houses to do the same. No other towns took the bait for this year’s day of bowling.

Even still, through word of mouth and online funds, Camden’s charity coffer grew until they reached $1,000.

“We knew that it took $1,000 to support a Big and Small relationship for a full year,” Firefighter Earle Holt said, in between bowls. “So we made that our goal. As of yesterday, we hit our goal at exactly $1,000. We’re really happy about that.”

That money, according to Hudson, supports the interviewing, training, and regular supporting of the Big and Little matches.

“The role of a mentor is really to be a friend. It’s not to be a parent or to discipline. Sometimes that’s a new role for people. So they need support in developing a friendship, just as you would for any friendship.”

With the funding part reached, the crew was able to relax and enjoy bowling just for fun.

“No it’s not [just for fun],” Firefighter Andrew Lowe said in a (teasingly) competitive manner from afar.

By the time the four crew members had bowled a number of strings, they were challenging each other to roll the candle pins by the non-dominant hand, by backwards positions, or any other way to keep the game in play.

At least they were able to bowl this year, being on-call 24 hours a day.

“Last year while we were here, we got a call and had to leave in the middle of the bowling,” Holt said. “That’s just how it is.”

For Holt and Lowe, the mentoring program has more meaning than that of the general public. Holt’s son was a big brother. Lowe’s daughter was a little sister.

According to Lowe, his daughter, an only child, learned of the program through school. As an elementary student who didn’t talk much, the year of mentorship helped her break through her reserves.

Mid-Maine Big Brothers/Big Sisters serves 700 children in Androscoggin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Penobscot, Somerset and Waldo counties, according to Hudson. This area in particular has several different programs that match high school and college students with children, adults with children, and in-school, and community-based matches.

The April 8 event also included morning bowling opportunities for Big and Little pairs to have fun while bonding. Several people dressed up in superhero costumes, matching this year’s theme.

The day, itself, is day six of an eight day Bowl for Kids’ Sake sweep through the Midcoast, from Waldoboro to Belfast. As the biggest fundraiser for BB/BS, the bowling events throughout Maine support about half of the organization’s operating budget.

The goal to reach before May is $280,000.

Hudson believes they are on track to meet that goal, but they won’t know until they’ve bowled through Skowhegan, Auburn, and in the fall, Bangor.

Next year, the Camden department plans to change another life through fundraising for BB/BS.

“We like to try and get involved in different things throughout the community as much as we can,” Holt said. “Obviously, it’s kind of what we do. So we’re really happy to fund a relationship for a full year.”

The crew also intends to again invite other fire departments to join them at the bowling alley.

Lincolnville, Rockport, Hope, Rockland, grease up those fundraising muscles, break out the bowling shirts, and consider yourselves challenged.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com