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.

Our Recent News

Pack the Porches 2026

By Jenna Pettit • March 27, 2026
Catholic Charities is thrilled to announce the success of our 16th Annual Pack the Porches Food and Fund Drive, held on March 27th, 2026.

Meet Nicole from Emergency Services

By Brittany Hoversten • March 5, 2026
If you ask anyone at Emergency Services, they’ll tell you the same thing: Nikki is unstoppable. Every single day, she goes above and beyond for Catholic Charities, our clients, and her team. Nikki is a proud mom of two, and her youngest recently moved out on their own. Life hasn’t always been easy—she lost her children’s father suddenly in 2006, a time she describes as chaotic and life-changing. Today, she’s in a happy relationship and loves spending time at the cabin, traveling, riding motorcycle, and making the yearly trip to Sturgis. Catholic Charities “found” Nikki in a very full-circle way. At the time, she was helping her dad with his job as a grocery vendor—the same stores that donate to Catholic Charities. difference for the community every day. At the end of each night, she lays her head down knowing she helped someone—and that’s what keeps her going. When her dad broke his elbow, Nikki stepped in to help him. Her strong work ethic caught the attention of a Catholic Charities program manager who had grown up with her dad. He saw something special in her and offered her a position. Her first assignment? Driving the Catholic Charities food truck—even though she had never driven a truck before. She remembers being terrified backing down the ramps, but her supervisor simply told her, “Keep it between the yellow lines.” She did—and that moment sparked the confidence that has fueled her ever since. Over the past 13 years, Nikki has worked in nearly every corner of Emergency Services. Nikki originally got pulled into Mardi Gras because her mom is crafty, and she’s been involved ever since. She especially loves the decorating and seeing everything come together. Last year’s event was particularly wild with so many new people, but Nikki’s natural leadership helped bring everyone together to create a fantastic experience. When asked what motivates her, Nikki doesn’t hesitate: positive thinking. “Negative thoughts will never give you a positive life,” she says. She believes positivity is contagious, and her mantra is simple: Do the best you can with what you have, take it one day at a time, and always pay it forward.

Mary’s Journey to Financial Stability

By Brittany Hoversten • January 15, 2026
When Mary reached out to FHC, she was overwhelmed and worried about losing her home. A devoted wife and mother with a strong career, she never expected that sudden health issues would reduce her income and cause her to fall behind on her mortgage. Missing several payments left her feeling vulnerable and unsure of where to turn. Once her health improved and she returned to full-time work, Mary was determined to regain control of her finances. She partnered with a housing counselor who helped her take a clear look at her household budget, identify areas to reduce expenses, and create a realistic plan to address her debt. During the process, Mary shared heartfelt gratitude with her counselor: “I can’t thank you enough for being my voice when I couldn’t advocate for myself and not judging me for my mishaps. I’m thankful Catholic Charities is part of our community and is a blessing for many.” With renewed confidence, Mary contacted her mortgage company to explore available workout options. Because her illness qualified as a hardship, she was eligible for a partial claim. This option allowed her to resume regular mortgage payments while moving the past-due balance to the end of her loan—giving her the breathing room she needed. Today, Mary feels empowered and more intentional about managing her household finances. She has also brought her husband into the budgeting process, realizing she doesn’t have to shoulder everything alone. This experience has strengthened her confidence and set her family on a path toward long-term financial stability.