Foster Grandparents Vital to Porter Leath Children

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - In business, a win-win relationship is profitable. The same holds true for how the relationship between low-income seniors who volunteer with disadvantaged children benefits the whole community.

The partnership was born in Shelby County back in 1972 with 20 foster grandparents . Today, more than 120 of the older, retired Memphis give their time to children who need it most. And, the benefits far outweigh the costs.

Lorine Ford was in the thick of retirement, and staying home wasn't enough for the then 58 year old.

Ford, a retired mother, says "I was looking for something to do to keep from staying home."

She discovered her love in the children at Porter Leath 15 years ago.

"Playing with them, teaching them, just having a lot of fun with them and everything, and doing things to help them, that's also help to me," says Ford.

Now 74 years old, she can't get enough of her volunteer job where smiling faces call her "Grandma Ford."

The senior volunteer says "it makes me feel good to know that they're loving me, to know they like being around me."

Ford is one of hundreds of senior citizen volunteers in the Foster Grandparent Program spread out at 33 sites across Shelby County.

Ve Frey, program director, says "they can be found at Head Start centers, in schools, they are at Youth Villages, at hospitals."

Started back in the 1970s, the program has blossomed successfully to bring low-income seniors in a mutually beneficial relationship with special needs children.

"What a comfort to know there is a caring adult with my child everyday. That to me is remarkable. That gives parents a sense of comfort, just knowing that," smiles Frey.

On average each year, seniors like Ford give 120,000 hours of their time. That's more than 1 million hours of service since the program's inception.

Ford laughs "we just have so much fun together, they are so sweet, children are so sweet."

So as long as Lorine Ford can catch the MATA bus, and her doctor gives her the go ahead, she will be there for the kids every day she can.

Right now, Porter Leath is not actively looking for more foster grandparents, but they are always accepting applications.

LINK | Foster Grandparent Program