Reported by Emily Lampa
Central Florida seniors help enrich the lives of local children by volunteering to be grandparents.
Through the foster grandparent program, there are 269 seniors volunteer at 81 sites across Central Florida.
The seniors are volunteering at the United Cerebral Palsy Charter School in Orlando.
"It is an inspiration just because they love coming," said Elisa Harris of Foster Grandparents of Central Florida. Just to be around them is wonderful. They say sometimes that is the reason they get up in the morning to go to their volunteer site.
"I love em and they love me they inspire me," she said. "It's very rewarding - very rewarding if you love children this is a wonderful job.
"When I'm away from the kids -- I miss them --- I enjoy them very much."
"It just fills our heart," said Amy Roberts of United Cerebral Palsey of Central Florida. "I mean it's just an amazing experience that these kids are asking for their grandparents every morning."
The program is taking new people all the time. They have 27 people enrolled in their orientation program right now.
You must be 55 years or older.
The foster grandparent program pays $2.65 an hour with transportation reimbursement.
To volunteer:
Foster Grandparent Program of Central Florida
Florida Senior Programs, Inc.
3545 Lake Breeze Dr.
Orlando, FL 32808
(407) 298-4180
(407) 298-2725 cell
Email: fgpcf@fostergrandparentprogram.org
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