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St. Mary's Foster Grandparent Program is currently recruiting foster grandparent volunteers to spend time in area classrooms, tutoring and mentoring children one on one or in small groups. Volunteers must be 55 years of age or older, relate well to children, and work well under the supervision of a teacher.

"Many retirees want to give their time to the community, and volunteering as a foster grandparent is very rewarding," says Tanya Fink, program coordinator for the foster grandparent program of Mesa and Delta counties. "During a training session today, several volunteers were telling me how much they love going to school — walking in the room, hearing the kids squeal with delight that they have 'Grandma' or 'Grandpa' in their class that day. The hugs, the love, make it all worth getting up and out the door! What makes it even more worthwhile is that the foster grandparent volunteers are filling a void in the schools, preschools, daycares, and Head Start classrooms that they volunteer in. School budgets are getting tighter, and educational expectations are increasing. Our volunteers can provide that one-to-one help that so many of our kids need."

Applicants will need to provide their own transportation to and from their assigned school, and submit to a background check. Volunteers who meet age and income criteria are eligible to receive a non-taxable stipend, and will need to be able to volunteer an average of 22 hours/week. For more information, or to apply, contact Tanya Fink, program coordinator, at 263-9091, x6.

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