Senior residents complete volunteer orientation to become Foster Grandparents

Eighteen Montgomery County seniors recently completed their pre-service orientation and training to become the newest volunteers with Family Services’ Foster Grandparent Program.

A program of Family Services, the Foster Grandparent Program provides volunteer opportunities for limited-income seniors over the age of 55 to tutor and mentor children who need extra assistance. Foster Grandparent volunteers are matched with children who may be developmentally delayed, physically disabled, homeless, abused, neglected, delinquent, learning disable or impoverished.

According to Tricia Reedy Jones, director of senior volunteer programs, these children are able to increase their academic proficiency, improve selfesteem and develop higherlevel coping skills through the consistent nurturing and guidance provided by the Foster Grandparents.

“Foster Grandparents give the kind of comfort and love that sets a child on the path toward a successful future,” said Reedy Jones. “In addition, Foster Grandparents strengthen communities by providing services that community budgets cannot afford and by building bridges across generations.”

Currently, the program has 80 Foster Grandparents who mentor children at more than 45 sites throughout Montgomery County. In 2015, these Foster Grandparents provided 97,915 hours of volunteer service to children in child care centers, Head Start programs, elementary schools and alternate schools.

“It gives me a purpose in life and a reason to get up in the morning,” said one Foster Grandparent.

Those interested in becoming a Foster Grandparent must be a Montgomery County resident, age 55 years or older, meet minimum income requirements and enjoy working with children and youth. All volunteer Foster Grandparents receive a modest taxfree stipend for a minimum of 15 hours of service each week, paid holiday, sick and vacation leave and ongoing training.

For more information on the Foster Grandparent Program, please contact Tricia Reedy Jones at 610630-0201 or treedyjones@fsmontco.org.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Eighteen Montgomery County seniors recently completed their pre-service orientation and training to become the newest volunteers with Family Services’ Foster Grandparent Program. Pictured at the program’s graduation ceremony are (front row, L to R)...