Commentary: Foster grandparents can change lives for the better

"Everybody can be great ... because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

When Dr. King wrote this beautiful quote he was certainly thinking of what is accomplished by the wonderful volunteers who dedicate their time, experience and talent to helping those who can't help themselves in times of need.

Focusing on volunteers, I would like to dedicate this column to the Foster Grandparent Program that has been around for more than 40 years and matches volunteer grandparents with kids who don't have grandparents or access to the ones they have.

The Foster Grandparent Program was designed to provide a child with a foster grandparent to help them feel loved and worthwhile. First lady Nancy Reagan adopted this program and made it her No. 1 priority during her eight years in the White House.

It is an outstanding program and is open to anyone age 55 and older, who can choose to work anywhere from 15 to 40 hours a week and receive a stipend of $3 an hour plus benefits. A no-cost security background check is required for all foster grandparents, who mostly interact in a school setting where many children have a difficult time with lessons and how to interact with teachers and other students.

If you are 55 or older and have a few hours a week to spare, please call to apply at 358-2768. You can easily get hooked on this program as it is so rewarding to see the turnaround in the kids' behavior when they have a grandparent to love and love them back.

To celebrate Grandparents Day, RSVP's VISTA Volunteer Joyce Greene organized a barbecue at Mills Park in Carson City, where grandparents and their grandchildren got to eat, play and just thoroughly enjoy their special day together. RSVP would like to thank the United Way volunteers who helped Joyce with all the details. The grandparents and kids said they had a great time and hope that RSVP does this again next year. And we will.

Remember, if you need to locate senior services, dial 211 and they will answer your questions. If not, call RSVP at 687-4680, Ext. 8.

Try something great ... volunteer today!

• Janice R. Ayres is president of Nevada Senior Corps Association and executive director of Nevada Rural Counties RSVP program.