CMCA seeks senior volunteers for Foster Grandparent Program

"Foster grandparents" would tutor at-risk students

Central Missouri Community Action volunteer coordinator Katie Wolfe is calling all grandparents.

Wolfe is looking for more volunteers aged 55 and older for the Foster Grandparent Program, which matches senior citizens with at-risk youth from infancy to adulthood to serve as mentors and tutors.

The program, sponsored federally through the Corporation of National and Community Service, is based in Columbia, but provides service to CMCA's nine counties, including Callaway. Existing partnerships are in place with Bush Elementary, St. Peter Catholic School and Callaway Head Start in Fulton.

"There are several (students) in each school who are part of the program," Wolfe said. "We try to help them work one-on-one with tutoring in reading or math."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.