Seniors 55 years of age or older who meet program income guidelines may become a stipend paid volunteer with the COAD Foster Grandparent program. Volunteers will be placed in educational facilities such as day care centers, Head Start centers, elementary schools, and other educational facilities. Each participant will be assigned three to five children under the supervision and direction of the teaching staff of the center. These children need a little extra one-on-one attention in their daily educational and social skills. A tax free stipend will be paid, which is not considered income for any reason and will not affect any social service benefits that are currently received. Volunteers will be reimbursed for mileage from home to site and back and for any other function of the program that they attend. There are monthly training meetings and an annual recognition. Qualifications include a love of children and enough patience to teach them experiences in life and follow the direction of the teaching staff. Volunteers will serve 20 to 40 hours per week.

For more information about this program, contact the COAD Area I Senior Programs Office; Kirk Guisti-Area I Coordinator; P.O. Box 176, Cadiz 43907; call 330-987-7232 or 740-942-8886; email kguisti@coadinc.org; stop in at 122 South Main St., across from the Harrison County Courthouse, next to Vicky’s Diner, or visit the COAD website at http://www.coadinc.org. The Area I office covers Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Harrison, Jefferson and Tuscarawas counties.