AmeriCorps declared the week of March 13-19 as AmeriCorps Week to honor the many volunteers in its various branches.
“Across the nation AmeriCorps continues to be a force multiplier bringing diverse individuals and institutions together to tackle some of the nation’s toughest challenges,” said AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith. “During these extraordinary times, AmeriCorps members have provided extraordinary service by keeping our kids in school and on track, and helping our communities build back stronger than before.”
Multi-County, sponsor of the Lauderdale County Foster Grandparent Program, is a section of the AmeriCorps Seniors, and they chose to honor their members with a special meeting on March 16. Three of the Clarke County Board of Supervisors—Board President Mickey Long, Lorenzo Carter, and Darrick Marshall—were able to attend the event to demonstrate their appreciation for what the women in the program do.
The supervisors expressed their appreciation and emphasized what a blessing the women are to both the children and the community they serve in.
“We appreciate this program and what it does for the community and our children,” expressed Long. “Those children are blessed beyond understanding because they have you all, and all of you care about them.”
Lorenzo Carter is blessed to have personally witnessed the impact that the program has on not only the children they help but also the members who work with the kids. He knows the impact the women have and wanted to make sure they understand just how valuable they really are.
“This is a special organization to me for many reasons. My mom passed about six years ago, but I watched my mom when she was at the house and was getting a little depressed with nothing to do. My mama loved talking to people, especially about the Bible and about God. When she was able to become a part of the foster grandparents, it made a difference in her. You could go by her house and tell the difference,” recalled Lorenzo. “I just want to thank you all for this great organization because this is a ministry within itself. Being a pastor, I can really tell when I have a child or any member of my church who reared that person. You all have a wealth of wisdom in you, and you are here because you haven’t completed your work and your purpose. I’m thankful for you and appreciate the service you render. What I admire about you all is that you all have that anchoredness with God.”
When Darrick Marshall was given a chance to speak, he could only reiterate how amazing the women are for what they do and how thankful he is for them and their work. Like the other two supervisors, he also extended an open invitation for them to let the Board of Supervisors know if there is anything they could help with.
“I’d like to restate what Mickey and Lorenzo have already said. We’re very thankful for you ladies and the work you do,” declared Marshall. “If there is anything the Clarke County Board of Supervisors can do to help you, please let us know. I know that we haven’t really given enough to Multi-county for the past six years, but hopefully we can give more now.”
Many citizens in the community are able to see the impact the foster grandparents have, but the majority of people may not know who or what they really are. The program is different from the state foster program. Instead of taking kids into their homes, foster grandparents go into schools and other organizations to help students with special and exceptional needs improve and progress.
“The Lauderdale County Foster Grandparent Program is one of several programs of the Multi-County Agency. We serve in four counties: Jasper, Kemper, Clarke, and Lauderdale,” informed Sabrina Wilson, coordinator for the foster grandparent program. “We work with children who are in public schools, faith based programs, Head Start centers, after school programs, and daycare centers. We have a minimum of two or more students that they work with. We work with students with special or exceptional needs, but that does not mean that the student necessarily has a birth defect or anything. Even though some children may have a birth defect, it could also be a child in the foster care system, a child who has a parent incarcerated, a child with low self-esteem, or a child with low reading and comprehension. The teacher places the foster granny with children who are struggling in those areas. That way, they may improve on those benchmark areas from the time they begin, which could be September, to the end of the school year. They also serve if there is an extended school year session if needed. We do have some programs that operate year round, like daycare centers, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Elimination Dyslexia Center located in Meridian.”
The program allows seniors to have something to do to keep them busy, and the times to work are established with the places they are partnered with.
“A lot of the volunteers make arrangements based on the workstations. We get with the teacher and principal and figure out what works best and equals out for both the volunteer and the workstation,” explained Wilson. “We meet once a month, and then other times we may have different workshops set up. The volunteers would still be monetarily compensated for that as well. We’re about to be a part of a charcuterie workshop that the extension service provides.”
Working alongside students isn’t the only thing the group does. The foster grandparents also enjoy helping the community as a whole and participate in different projects. One of the projects they do occurs every September and assists with the homeless population.
“One of our projects is the Francis W. Davidson Day of Service, which is the second Friday of September,” informed Wilson. “That’s where we ask people to donate household items to the Francis W. Davidson Homeless Center, which is located on the grounds of Multi-county in Meridian. We send that list of items out so people can come donate. People can also give monetary donations if they choose to do so.”
They are working on a project now to further assist the students. While they already help students academically, they also want to help meet some physical needs for the children as well.
“Now, we are also doing donations for personal hygiene for children in the school districts. Even though a child may appear to have some things, a lot of them really don’t, and they don’t want anyone to know,” described Wilson. “Then, you have teachers who show up early so that child can have that time to freshen up and have clean clothes. Some teachers will take their clothes home to wash and then bring them back to the child. We want to make it where each school will have those items, and if that child or family is in need of the items they could be packed up discreetly. They can either be taken to the home or given to the child to take home.”
A third project they participate in is directed towards veterans.
“We do something for Veterans on Veteran’s Day,” stated Wilson. “One year we partnered with Meridian Mutual Credit Union and did Sock It to the Veterans. We had socks donated for veterans. Some of those socks went to veterans in Jackson, and others we shared with different convalescent homes in Jasper, Lauderdale, Kemper, and Clarke Counties.”
For senior citizens who would like to participate in the program and make a difference in the lives of multiple children, there is an application process to go through. For those who do become foster grandparents, there is also a minor compensation for the time and travel that are required in the program.
“People who are 55 and up with income guidelines can apply. We do have an application that they must fill out. There is a review of the application and an interview,” explained Wilson. “If they’re accepted, then they have to have a background check done as well as attend the orientation and trainings included with it. People can get an application from the local multi-county site in the courthouse. If they have access to email, we can also forward them a copy of the application in an email. With Head Start being back in session, we will also try to put some applications there that they could pick up.They receive a $3 an hour stipend that is nontaxable as well as mileage, which is 31 cents a mile.”
The Multi-County Foster Grandparent Program is a huge asset to the county and a blessing for the children. It is great to have a time set aside to let them know just how important they are and thank them for all the services they provide.
