Love Elementary School Foster Grandma Teresa Duro helps out kindergarteners, Kyan Rivera and Javiona Blake, with their math in Adriana Cammarata’s class.

Love Elementary School students are lucky to benefit from Lutheran’s Foster Grandparent Program. Currently, there are three foster grandparents at Love: Connie Mignoli in UPK, Karen Madden in first grade and UPK, and Teresa Duro in kindergarten.

“I love working with the kids,” said Grandma Teresa. “They are like sponges and so energetic and fun – they keep me young. I decided to volunteer in the program because my mother and father were teachers and my son is a teacher. I thought it would be a great way to honor them and give back to my community.”

The foster grandparents work with the kids on academic skills, life skills and just an extra, caring listener. The purpose of the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program is to provide supportive, person-to-person service to children in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties.

“The Foster Grandparent Program has been a wonderful addition to my classroom for the past 20 years,” said Love kindergarten teacher, Adriana Cammarata. “I have had four different grandma’s and they all have brought different gifts and talents to my classroom. They have been able to help my students in so many ways, from helping them with letters and numbers to helping them with social and emotional skills. My previous grandma, Carmen Perez, not only helped me, but the whole school with her bilingual background. She was passionate about her Hispanic culture and was able to share it with everyone at Love School. I am so thankful and appreciative that we have the Foster Grandparent Program working with our students in JPS.”

To be a Foster Grandparent, men and women over the age of 55 must be income eligible, in good physical/mental health and enjoy being among children. If a community member is interested in becoming a Foster Grandparent, please email Brenda Weiler, Project Coordinator Lutheran Foster Grandparent Program at brendaw@lutheran-jamestown.org for more information.

“I hear from Foster Grandparents all the time that being a part of the program keeps them socially engaged, physically active and working with the kids is the best,” said Mrs. Weiler.