Big Brothers Big Sisters says they have exceeded targets for their 75 Doors campaign.

The initiative, launched last August is based on the idea is that each door represents a child waiting to be matched with a big brother or sister, and the funding challenges that come with that.

The organization says it costs $1,500 to make and support a match for one year.

Executive director Kelly Leach says they not only reached their goal of opening 75 doors, but they surpassed it, and as of today they have opened 86 doors.

Leach notes that they are “just getting started” and there are more doors to open.

The program was launched due to a significant increase in demand.

She says pre-pandemic they averaged 60 to 70 inquiries a year, but in the last few years they have been receiving between 140 and 170 per year.

The waitlist is down thanks to the campaign and volunteers coming forward, but even with 86 doors being opened they still have 60 kids waiting for their match, and there are even more going through the approval process to get on the list.