14 Montco Senior Residents Complete Volunteer Orientation to Become the Newest Foster Grandparents
For Immediate Release
Contact: Karen E. Konnick, Director of Marketing and Communications
Phone: 610-630-2111 ext. 227
E-mail: kkonnick@fsmontco.org
14 Montgomery County Senior Residents Complete Volunteer Orientation
to Become the Newest Foster Grandparents
EAGLEVILLE, PA, July 6, 2012 — Fourteen Montgomery County seniors recently completed 40 hours of pre-service orientation and training to become the newest volunteers with Family Services’ Foster Grandparent Program.
A program of Family Services of Montgomery County, the Foster Grandparent Program provides volunteer opportunities for limited-income seniors over the age of 55 to help children with special needs. Foster Grandparents work in day care centers, elementary schools, Head Start programs, alternative schools, and at other community agencies, providing one-on-one academic and emotional support to children who are in need of additional assistance.
According to Program Director Tricia Reedy Jones, Foster Grandparents play many roles, but they primarily serve as mentors, tutors and friends and provide children with extra love and attention at a critical time in their lives.
“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 approximately 115 Foster Grandparents who mentor children at more than 60 different sites throughout Montgomery County.
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 tax-free stipend for a minimum of 15 hours of service each week, paid vacation and sick time, paid holidays, and transportation reimbursement.
For more information on the Foster Grandparent Program, please contact Tricia Reedy Jones at 610-630-0201 or treedyjones@fsmontco.org.
Pictured are (front row, left to right) Tricia Reedy Jones, program director, Foster Grandparent Program; Joan McKay of Collegeville; Frances Laws of Pottstown; Neomia Brown of Glenside; Olga Shemar of Norristown; Bernice Johnson of Norristown; Carol Welch of Pottstown; Kathleen Pennelli of Norristown; Christine Berkowitz, volunteer coordinator, Foster Grandparent Program; (back row, left to right) Cheryl Johnson of Norristown; Dante Costanzo of Collegeville; Joan Alberts of Perkiomenville; Lilyan Schuldaski of Lansdale; Sabrin Abdullah of Wyncote; Barbara McClure of Norristown; and Layir Anthony of Hatboro.
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