Foster Grandparents Serve Students During National Mentor Month

February 8, 2022

Four Catholic Charities "Grandma's" have served area schools not just during National Mentor Month, but for decades.

Grandma Audrey Dingmann working with students.

January was National Mentor Month, within Catholic Charities, we have many great volunteers who are mentors. The Foster Grandparent Program currently has 176 volunteers mentoring children throughout the 16 counties in the St. Cloud Diocese. In the Albany Area School District, you can find four amazing mentors who are known as “Grandma,” who volunteer at the school through the Foster Grandparent Program.

Grandma Rosie Maile (Avon Elementary) has been a volunteer with the program for 12 years. She served at Avon Elementary for the past four years working with Ms. Meyer and the Kindergarten classrooms. She works with students on academic skills and help improve their reading by listening to them read. Ms. Meyer would describe Rosie as “Compassionate, joyous, giving, and gracious.” The students view her in a different light and use words such as nice, pretty, silly, cool, and kind .

Grandma Jewell Glady (Albany Elementary) has been volunteering with Ms. Navratil’s class for nearly four years. Jewell works with students in whole and in small groups with math, reading, and science. Ms. Navratil would describe Jewell as dedicated, giving, and compassionate. The students describe Jewell as nice, kind, and giving. They especially like it when she gives them Lifesavers after working hard.

Grandma Maren Chrismen (Avon Elementary) has been a volunteer with Ms. Conrad’s fourth grade classroom for two years. Ms. Conrad appreciates that Maren, “Makes each child in the class feel smart and special. She works with them on what they are passionate about. They thrive off her positive support and attention.” The students describe Maren as helpful, kind, and fun.

Grandma Audrey Dingmann (Avon Elementary) joined the Foster Grandparent Program in the fall of 2021. She is working with four pre-school classrooms, spending one day a week in each. The teachers appreciate having her in their classrooms. Ms. Trehey described Audrey as warm, adaptable, and kind, with Ms. Kost stating, “It’s been a joy to have her in my classroom.”

Our volunteers serve differently throughout our program, but they share one common role: mentors. We are grateful for all our volunteers.

For more information on the Foster Grandparent Program contact Sara Heurung at (320)229-4589 or Sara.Heurung@ccstcloud.org.

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