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The Foster Grandparent Program, sponsored by the Greater Erie Community Action Committee, is looking for adults age 55 and older to mentor Erie youth.

Foster grandparents are placed in a school, Head Start or other educational facility. They help three to five special needs students with their daily learning tasks.

Participating foster grandparents receive a federal stipend. They volunteer between 20 and 40 hours per week for at least nine months a year.

Foster grandparents must pass a physical, Child Abuse History Clearance and Criminal History Clearance. The clearances are paid for by the Foster Grandparent Program.

Volunteers must have an annual income at 200 percent of the poverty line (for example, for a single person household, that would be $22,340 a year.)

The Foster Grandparent Program is part of the Senior Service Corps and is funded, in part, by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Photo courtesy of the Greater Erie Community Action Committee

Are you retired? Looking for a way to give back?

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), run by the Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC), matches the skills of retired people with the needs of community organizations across the Erie area.

GECAC only asks that participants “possess interest and ability in the volunteer task.”

RSVP volunteers may tutor children, pack items for food assistance programs or assist health screenings for other seniors.

To be eligible to participate, volunteers must be age 55 or older and an Erie County resident. Volunteers can donate up to 40 hours of their time a week.

To get involved, contact Ron Howze at the GECAC by telephone at 459-4581 ext. 463 or via e-mail at rhowze@gecac.org.

Photo courtesy of GECAC