The Foster Grandparent Program Needs You!
Seniors reach out to young people
Additional Images
Photo by Albert Isaac
Norma Berger, Foster Grandparent coordinator, presents a gleeful Margaret Sharpe with a First Place award for her fundraising efforts at the recent Rock-a-Thon fundraising event.
Want to help children in the community? Then consider the Foster Grandparent Program.
For Seniors 60 years of age or better, who are full of love and patience, have a deep desire to help and are willing to listen, the Foster Grandparent Program is the place to be.
"It's a wonderful program," said Norma Berger, who has been the coordinator for five years. "We currently have 115 volunteers and always need more. We are always recruiting new volunteers, especially men volunteers."Sponsored by Alachua County and the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Foster Grandparent Program was established in 1965 and is part of the National Senior Service Corps. The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners has sponsored this program since July 1973.
This month, the program begins recruiting new volunteers. Interested Seniors should apply soon, as the upcoming two-week training session begins June 29 and runs through July 10.
"We are looking for any volunteers who are over 60 and want to work with children," Berger said.
The volunteers typically serve in elementary schools and after-school programs.
"Those are the ones we are focusing on right now," she said.
There are also some specialized settings, such as the Sidney Lanier Center, for volunteers to work with older children or children with more profound needs, Berger said.
"We like to offer them a variety of services and work with their interests and capabilities," she said.
Berger said they are also hoping to find additional sites for Foster Grandparents to serve.
"If there are programs that serve children that are interested in having Foster Grandparent Volunteers assist them, please contact us," she said.
To be a foster grandparent, a volunteer must meet income guidelines, be at least 60 years of age and in reasonably good health. Additionally, volunteers must enjoy working with children.
The program provides volunteers with a stipend for 15 to 40 hours of work per week, supplemental insurance, transportation or partial reimbursement, a daily meal or partial reimbursement, free annual physical examinations, personal-leave benefits and training. Additionally, Foster Grandparents have social contact with other grandparents and the joy of knowing they are making a difference in the lives of children.
"It's a great benefit for the children as well as the volunteers," Berger said. "The volunteers form really special bonds with the children they work with."
Sadie McBroom has been a Foster Grandparent for five years and has seen her grandchildren move from kindergarten on to fourth grade.
"I work with the kindergarteners," McBroom said, "and every year I have two different children. As the new ones come in, I get them."
Although McBroom typically works with two children who "really need help," she helps others as well.
"I can't say no," McBroom said. "I'm grandmother to all 19 of them. It's just a joy seeing the babies come in, some of them can't even write their name and don't know their numbers, and now four are going into the gifted class. They can add and subtract and read. It is just a joy to help the teacher."
McBroom said some of the children's parents move from place to place, so the children do not have grandparents nearby -- Foster Grandparents can help fill that role. And like every grandparent knows, McBroom gets to enjoy the fruit of her labor.
"I've got pictures of them sitting for Christmas," McBroom said. "And they give me candy, and make the picture and put it in a frame and say, 'you can keep it.'"
During her years as a Foster Grandparent, McBroom has enjoyed watching the children grow up.
"They are fourth graders now, and I hear someone say, 'Hey Grandma,' and they are taller than me."
In May, Foster Grandparents held its annual Rock-a-Thon at the Cracker Barrel restaurant in Gainesville. Volunteers, working in half-hour shifts, sat in rocking chairs on the front porch and kept the chairs rocking from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Rock-a-Thon brought in more than $5,000 in donations.
"The funds help the program provide recognition and training for the Foster Grandparent volunteers," Berger said.
Each year a contest is held for the volunteers who bring in the most money through their sponsors. Cash prices are awarded to the top four. This year, volunteer Margaret Sharpe received $100.
"She raised over $400 as an individual," Berger said, "just by asking her friends, neighbors and church members."
The Foster Grandparent Program serves children with special or exceptional needs, such as children with a history of abuse and neglect, troubled teens, young mothers, pregnant teens and their infants, and children with developmental and learning disabilities.
Nationally, more than 30,000 Foster Grandparents assist 275,000 special needs children each year. Throughout Alachua County, Foster Grandparents volunteer over 90,000 hours in 40 different locations.
Volunteers also enjoy social events, such as the annual recognition banquet held in December.
Volunteering provides benefits not only for the child, but for the volunteer as well, Berger said.
"It gives them a special purpose," she said, "and improves the lives of the children. [Volunteers] help them improve tangible things, like their reading and helping them learn, but there are also emotional benefits."
"It's great," McBroom said. "I enjoy it myself. It's a good place to be and you are helping someone." §
Albert Isaac is Editor-in-Chief at Tower Publications. He may be contacted at editor@towerpublications.com.
The Foster Grandparent Program
Community Support Services
218 SE 24th Street, Gainesville.
Interested Seniors can pick up the forms in person, or call 352-264-6731 and have them mailed, or download the application from the Web site.
