Courtesy Darrel Hammon

The war on poverty came to Utah County in 1965 as part of a pilot project. The original program started at a state developmental center called the State Training School, a live-in school for disabled children, and people volunteered there.

Fast forward 60 years. The pilot project continues the war on poverty and has evolved into the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs, which are sponsored by Utah County, funded by an AmeriCorps federal grant and overseen by the Department of Health (health.utahcounty.gov/senior-volunteers/).

The Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs provide those 55 years old and older with volunteer opportunities through which they serve Utah County children and homebound seniors across Utah and Wasatch counties.

All senior volunteers receive a tax-free stipend, meal or meal reimbursement, transportation or mileage reimbursement and ongoing training.

There are some minimum requirements to be a volunteer in either the Foster Grandparent or the Senior Companion programs. Potential volunteers must be 55 years old or older, serve a minimum of 15 hours per week and be income eligible (200% of the poverty guideline for volunteers).

Courtesy Darrel Hammon

Both programs require background checks and 20 hours of paid program-specific training before volunteers begin. Plus, all volunteers receive monthly in-service training covering various administrative tasks and child protective services reporting situations, with additional training in Medicare, wills and estates, and other subjects important to seniors.

The Foster Grandparent Program asks schools if they have a need for volunteers. Foster grandparents are then assigned to classroom teachers who have requested them and normally work with children with special or exceptional needs, those below grade level or those needing extra one-on-one assistance.

“These volunteers serve under the supervision of a certified teacher,” said Cara Moody, program manager for the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs. “The teacher assigns the volunteer what to work on. Each student receives real-time assistance for 10 to 15 minutes during a class period to concentrate solely on what they need and then go back to the lesson the class is learning.”

Currently, 36 foster grandparents volunteer in 20 elementary schools throughout the Alpine, Nebo and Provo school districts, from Eagle Mountain to Santaquin. Two of them have served for 22 years, and new volunteers constantly come into the program.

Recruiting for senior volunteers is an ongoing process. “We recruit at senior centers and various community events. During the summer events, we set up senior cooling stations with fans,” Moody said. “When seniors come to cool down, we discuss the benefits of becoming volunteers.”

Courtesy Darrel Hammon

Volunteers volunteer for a variety of reasons. A Senior Companion program volunteer, Donna Donnell, retired from Utah Valley Hospital. A few weeks later, she was bored and wanted to do something. “My neighbor Candace got me started,” Donnell said. “Now, seven and a half years later, Ruth Payne and I have formed a lasting relationship.”

Another volunteer, Janet, is part of the Foster Grandparent Program. She is wheelchair bound and not able go to the school but wanted to volunteer. She became a part of a unique pen pal program where she corresponds with students. She was assigned an entire class, then two. Each month she handwrites personal letters to 54 different students.

“At the beginning of the year, I write an introductory letter to each student,” Janet said. “I tell about me and let them know they can call me Nana, Janet, or Nana Janet. I ask simple questions about their favorite color and animals, etc. Then, we begin corresponding. When they write and tell me about their favorite book, I find it and read it so I can respond to them.”

Janet keeps a special notebook for each student so she can track her interactions with them and refer back to the letters she has received. “I want them to feel special and heard. I want them to know they are cared for and mean something,” she said.

One foster grandparent, Nancy Gould, retired from the State of Utah’s Adult Protective Services. A short time later, she decided she needed to be busy. Having worked for the state, she had heard about the Foster Grandparent Program, so she walked into their office and offered to serve.

Courtesy photo

“I now work with special education children and a group of accelerated second graders at Sunset View Elementary,” she said. “I love them, and they love me. They call me Nana and even bought me a front license plate.”

Another foster grandparent, Esther Mercado from Mexico, had surgery on her foot, stayed six months in a wheelchair and became disabled. Soon she felt depressed and alone because of her disability. One day, she talked to one of her friends, who told her about this program. She was immediately interested.

“My friend took me to the Senior Volunteers Office, and I applied. The very next week, they had a spot for me. I love the children, I feel happy, and my depression is gone,” Mercado said. “For the past 10 years, I have worked at the Lakeview Elementary, and they call me Grandma Esther. The experience is indescribable. I give love, and I receive love.”

Being a senior companion offers an array of opportunities to meet new people and encounter different ways of life and stories. Volunteers visit each client for two to four hours per week in their homes, share a few meals, go shopping together, run necessary errands, offer respite, serve as a fashion consultant and a personal shopper, take clients to doctor appointments, eat out and more.

Senior companions also form lasting friendships with clients. Ruth, Donnell’s client, loves the care that Donnell gives to her. “Donna is a great friend,” Ruth said. “She is so kind. Since I cannot see, she helps me with so many things, including describing things when we go shopping. She has become a wonderful companion to me.”

Not only do the senior volunteers make a difference in the lives of the children and other people they serve, they also see differences in their own lives.

“This program gives me a reason to get up in the morning and something to look forward to,” Gould said. “I have only one natural grandchild, but now I have so many grandchildren. When they see me in the store, they call out to me. We forget about ourselves to help someone else. We are not in our own sadness. We help make people happy, which makes us happy.”

Janet echoes the sentiment that foster grandparents are making differences. “Some of the children told me that they finally felt like someone cared enough about them to help them succeed,” she said. “I saw them grow and develop and become learners that teachers didn’t expect them to be.”

Hector, from Viña del Mar, Chile, is the van driver and loves to help. He picks up volunteers who need a ride and takes them to the schools where they serve.

Each year, the senior companions complete a survey with the clients. The statistics demonstrate great success and differences made in the lives of the senior clients. “Ninety percent are able to stay in their own homes, 89% were less lonely, 87% said they had a better quality of life,” Moody said. “Plus, according to the districts’ 2024 assessment of the programs, 88% of those helped showed improvement in the academic scores.”

For the past 60 years, these senior volunteers have made huge differences in the lives of so many.

In 2024, 41 volunteers in the Classroom Grandparents Program served 379 students and volunteered a total of 28,286 hours. Also, 36 Senior Companion volunteers served 635 homebound older adults through 23,589 volunteer hours. For the Classroom Grandparents Program, the national value of classroom volunteer 2024 hours was $947,298; for the Senior Companion Program, the national value of their 2024 hours was $793,345.

“These programs are unique and beneficial because they benefit everyone involved,” said Aislynn Tolman-Hillman, Utah County director of strategic communication and equity. “Everyone is giving and receiving. I have not seen a program that has more support at the county level. They are recognized for their success every year by county commissioners, mayors and other dignitaries. All sorts of people support these programs. These types of senior programs are not found in all health departments.”

“This is something I aspire to become. I want to be just like them when I grow up. Besides, volunteers live longer with better health!” Moody said.

“These programs continue to look for more volunteers, especially men and Spanish speakers. Our volunteers are our greatest resources,” Moody said. “Come volunteer with us. We need more.”

If you are looking to volunteer, contact Senior Programs at 801-851-7767 or go to https://health.utahcounty.gov/senior-volunteers/.