Foster Grandparent Program Perfect Fit
for Cassville Resident
January 19, 2022
Sheila Harris
At age 84, Sharon Thomas, of Cassville, figured out what she wanted to be when she grew up while serving on the board of directors for Ozark Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC) some 20 years ago.
“I learned about the Americorps Senior Foster Grandparent Program, which is administered by OACAC, and knew I wanted to get involved in it,” Thomas said.
Due to a perceived conflict of interest, Thomas was not allowed to serve as a grandparent while sitting on the board, so she gave up her board membership and, in 2001, joined the ranks of some 200,000 Americorps Senior Volunteers serving in various capacities across the nation. The Senior Foster Grandparent Program is but one volunteer opportunity available to men and women ages 55 and older.
Thomas first served as a foster grandmother at God’s Little Kingdom Preschool at First Christian Church in Cassville, before transferring to Cassville R-IV’s Early Childhood Development Center several years ago.
Called “Grandma Sharon” by students and staff, Thomas fills a needed gap for preschoolers who need a little extra attention.
“My main responsibilities are to play with the children and comfort them,” Thomas said. “I like that. Some kids don’t want to leave their parents, so I help ease their apprehension by getting them to open up and discover things they can learn and know.”
Some children, Thomas said, are non-verbal, or are uncomfortable looking at or speaking to other children, so she initiates games of “Go Fish,” in which players are required to speak to others as part of the game.
“I love seeing their ‘Aha-moment,’ when things just sort of click with them,” Thomas added.
Early Childhood teacher, Pam Ralls, says, “Oh, my goodness! It’s so helpful to have Sharon in my classroom. She helps with things that I don’t always have time for.”
Kathy Moore, director of the Foster Grandparent Program at OACAC’s central offices in Springfield, says the program itself has been in effect since 1965, although OACAC didn’t begin sponsoring it until 1972. The program is currently in place in ten Ozark counties.
Although it is labeled a “volunteer” program, foster grandparents are given a $3 per hour, non-taxable stipend for their service.
“The idea,” Moore says, “is to provide a little money for expenses without putting volunteers over their maximum allowable income limit for the subsidized housing that some seniors live in.”
According to program requirements, volunteers may serve anywhere from five to 40 hours per week.
More information can be found at https://americorps.gov/serve/fit-finder/americorps-seniors-foster-grandparent-program, or by emailing Kathy Moore at [email protected].
Moore said volunteers will go through an interview process as well as background checks.
“We want to make sure volunteers look at the grandparent program as a commitment,” Moore said, “because these kids form bonds and look forward to seeing their ‘grandparents.’”
Sharon Thomas, who now suffers from degenerative disc disease, is committed.
“These kids help me keep my mind off my chronic pain,” she says. “I love being here as much as they love seeing me.”
At age 84, Sharon Thomas, of Cassville, figured out what she wanted to be when she grew up while serving on the board of directors for Ozark Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC) some 20 years ago.
“I learned about the Americorps Senior Foster Grandparent Program, which is administered by OACAC, and knew I wanted to get involved in it,” Thomas said.
Due to a perceived conflict of interest, Thomas was not allowed to serve as a grandparent while sitting on the board, so she gave up her board membership and, in 2001, joined the ranks of some 200,000 Americorps Senior Volunteers serving in various capacities across the nation. The Senior Foster Grandparent Program is but one volunteer opportunity available to men and women ages 55 and older.
Thomas first served as a foster grandmother at God’s Little Kingdom Preschool at First Christian Church in Cassville, before transferring to Cassville R-IV’s Early Childhood Development Center several years ago.
Called “Grandma Sharon” by students and staff, Thomas fills a needed gap for preschoolers who need a little extra attention.
“My main responsibilities are to play with the children and comfort them,” Thomas said. “I like that. Some kids don’t want to leave their parents, so I help ease their apprehension by getting them to open up and discover things they can learn and know.”
Some children, Thomas said, are non-verbal, or are uncomfortable looking at or speaking to other children, so she initiates games of “Go Fish,” in which players are required to speak to others as part of the game.
“I love seeing their ‘Aha-moment,’ when things just sort of click with them,” Thomas added.
Early Childhood teacher, Pam Ralls, says, “Oh, my goodness! It’s so helpful to have Sharon in my classroom. She helps with things that I don’t always have time for.”
Kathy Moore, director of the Foster Grandparent Program at OACAC’s central offices in Springfield, says the program itself has been in effect since 1965, although OACAC didn’t begin sponsoring it until 1972. The program is currently in place in ten Ozark counties.
Although it is labeled a “volunteer” program, foster grandparents are given a $3 per hour, non-taxable stipend for their service.
“The idea,” Moore says, “is to provide a little money for expenses without putting volunteers over their maximum allowable income limit for the subsidized housing that some seniors live in.”
According to program requirements, volunteers may serve anywhere from five to 40 hours per week.
More information can be found at https://americorps.gov/serve/fit-finder/americorps-seniors-foster-grandparent-program, or by emailing Kathy Moore at [email protected].
Moore said volunteers will go through an interview process as well as background checks.
“We want to make sure volunteers look at the grandparent program as a commitment,” Moore said, “because these kids form bonds and look forward to seeing their ‘grandparents.’”
Sharon Thomas, who now suffers from degenerative disc disease, is committed.
“These kids help me keep my mind off my chronic pain,” she says. “I love being here as much as they love seeing me.”
