LEWISTON — To the world, Victoria Wyeth is the only grandchild of American artist Andrew Wyeth and a great-granddaughter of N.C. Wyeth. She tours the country and abroad lecturing about Wyeth art.

To Sarah Blondin, Wyeth is “Vic,” her big sister. That Wyeth comes from a famous family doesn’t faze Blondin.

The two met some 15 years ago when Wyeth, then a Bates College student, became Blondin’s “Big Sister.” Blondin was 11 years old, a student at McMahon Elementary School.

Their relationship continued after the program ended. They consider each other family. When Wyeth marries in Pennsylvania later this month, Blondin will be her maid of honor.

It will he Blondin’s first trip to Philadelphia, “my first fancy wedding, my first big wedding.” She’s a little nervous about giving the speech, “but I have a lot to say.”

Wyeth made a huge difference in her life, Blondin said. “I grew up with her. She has taught me to be independent, to take school and education very seriously. … I know we’re not blood, but we both think of each other as family. I can’t imagine my life without her in it.”

Ditto for Wyeth.

“I met her when her personality was still forming. There’s a little bit of me in her,” Wyeth said. “If I never attended Bates, I wouldn’t have Sarah. I can’t detach one from the other. She’s my best friend.”

The friendship began in 1999 when Wyeth was a student teacher at McMahon and a guidance counselor asked Wyeth to mentor one of the children.

“I said, ‘Sure; why not?’”

She was introduced to Sarah in the cafeteria. “She was so quiet. I said, ‘Hey, you want some candy?’” Wyeth said, laughing about that first candy-from-a-stranger line.

The two clicked. They liked a lot of the same things. They got together weekly to play Scrabble, make gummy bears or chap stick. Wyeth dragged Blondin to help volunteer at a downtown Catholic clothing shelter. She read Stephen King’s “It” aloud to Blondin at an Auburn cafe.

She got as much out of the relationship as Sarah did, Wyeth said. While at Bates, her home her life was tough. “My parents’ marriage fell apart,” Wyeth said. “It hurt. It was a big wound. Sarah helped me. I needed her as much as she needed me. She became my family.”

It was uplifting to watch Blondin celebrate her 12th birthday, or try eyeliner for the first time or dress up for Halloween. As the girl grew into a teenager, Wyeth counseled her on typical traumas. “I could always confide in her,” Blondin said.

As Wyeth graduated from Bates in 2001, another student who was a Big Sister said parting from her little sister was painful. “It doesn’t have to end!” Wyeth said. “How can you enter someone’s life, then just leave?”

Wyeth moved away. Her family is from Pennsylvania. She and Blondin wrote back and forth regularly. Blondin has a collection of cards and letters from Wyeth. One Christmas card has hand-drawn stockings, x’s and o’s, and reads: “Sarah is the coolest girl in Lewiston. Don’t ever forget that!”

Wyeth visits Lewiston at least once a year. They always get together.

Now that Blondin is an adult, Wyeth is proud of her little sister. After graduating from Lewiston High School in 2006, Blondin attended Central Maine Community College. Today, she works in health care and is studying for a career in financial services.

“She’s amazing,” Wyeth gushed. “She doesn’t do drugs. She has an amazing fiance. She bought a house, has an adorable little son. She’s a good person.”

A few years ago, the two were in a store and Blondin had fancy chocolates. An elderly lady commented on how good they looked. “Sarah gave it to her; I was crying,” Wyeth said of Blondin’s kindness. “What more could you want?”

Wyeth approves of Blondin’s fiance. Blondin approves of Wyeth’s fiance.

“I’ve seen a positive change in her life since he’s become part of it,” Blondin said. “I like him. I approve 110 percent.”

Wyeth plans to return to Lewiston in January to teach students at Montello Elementary School about art.

In one class will be Blondin’s son, Nicholas, Wyeth said. “He calls me ‘Aunt Vic.'”

bwashuk@sunjournal.com

LEWISTON — Locally, Big Brothers Big Sisters is overseen by Community Concepts and includes two programs, one school-based and one community-based.

In schools, high school and college student mentors play board games, read, do homework, play sports or talk with their “littles,” elementary schoolchildren.

In the community-based program, adults 18 and over are matched with children ages 7-14 in Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties. Adults are asked to commit for a year and to spend six hours a month with their little brother or sister, with times established by parents.

Activities can include walking in the park, sharing a pizza, playing board games, basketball or a healthy activity the adult would like to share, program manager Kristen Gilley said.

Often, the adults get as much out of the relationships as the children, Gilley said. She grew up as an only child and mentored a little sister for years.

In the past year, the program has helped create 210 matches, 120 in Androscoggin County, 68 in Oxford and 22 in Franklin. Those who participated were surveyed. The findings are:

* 92 percent of mentors agreed they enjoyed the experience of being a Big Brother of Big Sister.

* 92 percent of Little Brothers or Little Sisters said the relationship was important to them.

* 90 percent of youths reported they were sure they would finish high school.

* 81 percent of evaluations showed an improvement in at least one school subject, reported by parents or teachers.

Gilley said more children who could benefit from the program are on a waiting list. For more information, call Gilley at 333-6404, go to http://www.community-concepts.org/big-brothersbig-sisters/ or follow Big Brothers Big Sisters on Facebook.