Published: May 16, 2008 10:56 am            

Foster grandparents program honored by Kids Hope United

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — It was back to the 1950s Thursday afternoon as Kids Hope United recognized its Foster Grandparent Program with a recognition banquet and luncheon.

During the “Rockin’ Recognition,” musical entertainment was provided by 4 Given — Barbara Bartley, Laurie Mulvaney, Ronda Phillips and Allyson Heitmeyer — with 1950s tunes like “My Guy.” After lunch, grandparent volunteers were recognized, followed by a presentation of the Kids Hope United Advisory Council and closing remarks.

Among those honored were Grace Laskowski, who has been a foster grandparent volunteer for the past five years, and volunteers at Logan Street Day Care and Preschool.

“I’m the Rocking Grandma,” she said proudly. “I love the babies. It’s been a very fulfilling program for me.” Laskowski said though she has a large family of her own, there were times she was unable to give the individual attention her family needed. By volunteering for Kids Hope United, she has been able to provide extra attention and love to a child who may need it. “It’s very rewarding. You feel like you’re giving them something they need and a little extra attention,” she commented.

This year, 31 foster grandparent volunteers have put in over 32,000 hours, serving nearly 1,700 children at 17 different sites in Jefferson, Wayne and Franklin counties. The hours are spent reading, tutoring in math, working on spelling words, listening and “just loving the children they serve,” information from program director Jennifer Witzel states.

“There’s so many kids that need help with tutoring and don’t have grandparents. [The volunteers] help fill in those gaps,” Witzel said. She added in the six years since the program began, foster grandparents have spent about 126,000 volunteer hours with children.

During the summer, Kids Hope United and volunteers served meals to children in the Mt. Vernon area through the District 80 Seamless Summer Feeding Program. They also made presentations to the Learn and Serve group at Casey Middle School, sharing the duties of a Foster Grandparent.

Last fall, Robert Whiteside, Jr. received the highest award from the Those Who Excel Program through the Illinois Board of Education and was recognized as a Daily Point of Light Award winner.

Laskowski insists the program would not be a success without the leadership of Witzel. “Jennifer has been an excellent supervisor,” she said. “We couldn’t ask for anyone better.”

For more information about the Kids Hope United Foster Grandparent Program, you may contact Witzel at 242-8266.

        

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