Imperial Valley honors National Grandparents Day
Across the country, grandparents are revered as the stalwarts of comfort and support noted Rosie Blankenship, acting public administrator and director of the Area Agency on Aging in the Imperial County, a community of caregivers established under the 1965 Older Americans Act.
Throughout a lifetime of devotion to their families and communities, grandparents continue to offer kindheartedness and understanding to their families and inspire many to perform at their personal best, reminded Blankenship. So it is only fitting on National Grandparents Day people want to honor the sacrifices they have made and express fondness and gratitude for them, she stressed. The Imperial County Area Agency on Aging encourages everyone to celebrate National Grandparents Day on Sunday. The Agency urges families to spend time with them to show gratitude on this red-letter day. This is a chance to thank grandparents for dedication to the community and their guidance to generations to come, said Blankenship.
The Area Agency on Aging suggests the simplest way to revere grandparents can be the most endearing, sharing stories, have grandchildren interview grandparents about challenging or a turning point in their lives or just sharing time together.
Other activities may include taking grandparents to a special school class or assembly where they can participate. Some schools have even held art or poster contests to tell grandparents’ story through artwork. Some may want to visit a retirement or nursing home to visit for the day. Or for the sports fan, it is fun to go to a Major League Baseball game.
It was efforts of Marion McQuade, a West Virginia resident who wanted to honor her grandparents in 1970 that helped sanction the day. Throughout the 70s, McQuade raised awareness about all that seniors do for everyone else. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter issued a presidential proclamation naming the first Sunday after Labor Day as Grandparents Day. The first official Grandparents Day was on Sept. 9, 1979.
Blankenship got AAA to compose a template letter that Imperial County students could use to fillin-the-blanks to address to their grandparents and express how much they mean in their lives.
“I’ve always seen grandparents as a second chance, providing a safe haven for their grandchildren,” said Blankenship. “Seniors are part grandparent, parent, friend and a lot of love combined.”
And yet unfortunately in Imperial County there are numerous grandparents who need to raise their children’s children, she noted and they should not go unnoticed. Many of the elderly do this on a limited income yet manage to provide a culturally rich life for grandchildren. “We want grandparents to know that AAA appreciates all that they do,” she added.