Daisy Jones: Volunteering my reason to get up in the morning
Published 5:58 am Monday, June 13, 2022
- Daisy Jones
Americorp Seniors offers a stipend of $3.15 an hour for these volunteers.
“This stipend does not affect the amount of your social security check, housing allowance, food stamps or other government benefits,” said Kathy Richard, Program Director. It is not taxable by federal regulations.”
Foster grandparents can work 20 to 40 hours per week, receive mileage reimbursement and receive paid time off for holidays.
Along with the practical hands-on work, grandparents also help boost the self-esteem and self-confidence of children and help teachers who often don’t have the time needed to help a struggling student one-on-one.
After her husband died in the 1980s, Daisy Jones became the single parent of three. In 2018, after retiring from her 40-year career with a large telecommunications company, Jones decided she’d look into the Big Brothers Big Sisters Foster Grandparent Program.
“I confess, I really didn’t realize I had signed up until later in the conversation,” she said with a chuckle. “It was probably best that it worked out that way, or I might never have done it, and I”m so glad I did. All that free time after retirement was OK at first, but then the walls started to close in. I knew I had to do something.”
Even though Jones made a point to interact with her daughters and attend their activities when they were growing up, she does remember the challenges of being a single mother. She’s also come to realize that her praise for even the smallest accomplishments might be the only praise the child receives. Life moves fast. Even the most caring parents have busy schedules and often go home at the end of the day exhausted.
-“Being with these children has allowed me to revisit that stage of life,” she said, “and now, sitting in that classroom, sometimes with kids who want attention so badly, they’re going to make sure they get it one way or the other, I remember something my mother told me. You may not always be able to reach your own children, but someone will.”
She recalls the day one student ran up to her exclaiming, “I can read, I can read.” This was only one example of the many times she realized that even when kids don’t appear to be listening, they are.
“Being a Big Brother Big Sister Foster Grandparent gives me a reason to get up in the morning. It’s something to look forward to. It’s real. And, if I make a difference in only one child’s life, well that’s something. I can tell you this. They’ve definitely made a difference in mine.”
