Foster Grandparent Program Looking for Volunteers

January 11, 2023

January is National Mentoring Month and mentoring can have its surprises! 

Little did Grandma Gerry know that when she became a Foster Grandparent and began volunteering at Kid Zone at the YMCA, she would get a marriage proposal. A 5-year-old attendee of Kid Zone told Gerry, “Grandma, we’re getting married.” Gerry laughs as she shares, “He just told me we were getting married; he did not ask. Then he said he was too young to get married, so we would have to wait.”


Gerry was not immediately sold on the idea of becoming a mentor, recalling, “When someone first encouraged me to become a Foster Grandparent, I fought it.” Now she looks forward to going to Kid Zone and volunteers five days per week.


Catholic Charities Central MN Foster Grandparent Program offers seniors, ages 55 and over, the opportunity to work with students in local schools, or other non-profit agencies with children who need extra assistance. Typically school “Grandmas” and “Grandpas” work one-on-one with kids who need some extra support and love.



We invite you to participate in this life changing program. Your involvement will positively benefit the lives of countless children, but will undoubtedly improve the quality of your life as well, through the documented health benefits and assurance that your contributions to the community are immense. To learn more about volunteering with the Foster Grandparent Program, please contact Sue Feliciano, Area Supervisor, at (320) 229-4589 or sue.feliciano@ccstcloud.org.


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