Seniors

Last Updated on Monday, 29 February 2016 02:14

Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. (PIC) is seeking volunteers for the Foster Grandparent Program of Southwestern Pennsylvania (FGP) in the six counties it serves -- Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Fayette, and Washington counties.

Funded through the National Corporation for Community Service's Senior Corps, the Foster Grandparent Program provides volunteers a way to stay active by serving children and youth in their communities.

“It is a logical match since foster grandparents reach children in our service area, continuing our long tradition of strengthening communities and fostering civic engagement in the region,” said Maria Campieri, program supervisor.

Foster grandparents volunteer in non-profit public and private schools; before-school and afterschool programs; Head Start, preschool and daycare centers.

Volunteers support academic and social-emotional needs by providing one-on-one attention as role models, mentors and tutors to children and youth with special and exceptional needs. The volunteers serve 15 to 40 hours per week and often maintain an ongoing, relationship with the children and youth for a year or longer.

No experience is necessary. “Seniors have extraordinary gifts and talents, along with valuable years of life experiences,” Campieri said. “We provide training that helps them focus on activities with children, such as improving social and emotional development and educational outcomes, supporting children in a variety of educational settings.”

Volunteers play various roles. They may offer guidance and mentoring to young people striving to succeed; tutoring children from kindergarten through 12th grade; one-to-one support to struggling youth; and guidance towards helping troubled youth discover their potential. Elaine Holloway, an Allegheny County FGP volunteer for eight years, describes one experience: “…the three-year-old that I work with needed so much help in so many ways. At first she didn’t talk and was so timid. She is now responding so well to me and working well in her journal.”

Volunteers must be 55 years of age or older and serve in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Fayette, or Washington counties. They must undergo a physical examination to determine they are capable of serving and agree to abide by all program requirements. A non-taxable stipend is offered to income-eligible volunteers to cover expenses along with supplemental accident and liability insurance.

For additional information, interested individuals can contact Maria Campieri at mcampieri@privateindustrycouncil.com or 724-836-2600, ext. 281. Information and an interest form are also available online at www.privateindustrycouncil.com/early-childhood/foster-grandparents.