10 Montgomery County Senior Residents Complete Volunteer Orientation to Become the Newest Foster Grandparents

Ten Montgomery County seniors recently completed 20 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 110 Foster Grandparents who mentor children at more than 50 sites throughout Montgomery County. In 2014, these Foster Grandparents provided 101,370 hours of volunteer service.

“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 tax-free 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 610-630-0201 or treedyjones@fsmontco.org.

Photo caption: Pictured at the program’s graduation ceremony are (front row, left to right) Tricia Reedy Jones, program director, Foster Grandparent Program; Jean Genesio of Harleysville; Charlotte Pellechio of Norristown; Stephanie Stanton of Lansdale; Harold Tucker of Hatfield; Mary Wingfield of Ambler; Julie Salemno, program coordinator, Foster Grandparent Program; (back row, left to right) Patricia Johnson of Blue Bell; Joanna Brown of Norristown; Musarrat Jehan of Lansdale; Arlene Grant of Lansdale; and Fran DeMarco of Norristown.