The Princeton Senior Resource Center is seeking a few more volunteers to read to local elementary children as it expands its GrandPal program.
In 1997, some enthusiastic people with just this interest decided to start a program at Littlebrook School. Recognizing the value of building relationships between older adults and young children, the Princeton Senior Resource Center and Littlebrook School joined forces to create a program centered on reading and sharing books, stories, experiences, and ideas.
Through the years the program has spread to the other elementary schools, and this year GrandPals will add three new kindergarten classes at Johnson Park. There are now 90 GrandPals who read to more than 300 children every week.
Volunteers are paired with one to two children for the school year. Most read once a week with kindergarten to second-grade children during the school day, though some GrandPals volunteer for multiple sessions per week.
The GrandPals come from Princeton, Lawrenceville, Skillman, Trenton, West Windsor, Plainsboro, East Windsor, Kendall Park, East Brunswick, Hamilton, and other surrounding towns.
This year there will be 14 classes participating, so there are many different sessions to choose from. Community Park will have bilingual Spanish and English classes, so anyone with some knowledge of Spanish is encouraged to participate.
Princeton Senior Resource Center is sponsoring this season’s first GrandPals event at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the Suzanne Patterson Building, 45 Stockton St., Princeton (behind Monument Hall).
The program encourages intergenerational friendships for both children and older adults who may not have a grandparenting relationship nearby. However, you don’t have to be a grandparent to participate. Anyone 50 years or older who enjoys reading and the company of fresh, young minds can become a GrandPal. New volunteers are encouraged.
The program is free. Light refreshments will be served. To register call Olivian Boon at (609) 924-7108.
