(Heidi Suah of the Foster Grandparent & Senior Companion Programs of Greater Siouxland on Talk of the Town - Phto by KIWA Staff)Northwest Iowa — Two programs in northwest Iowa are always looking for volunteers — the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companionship Programs of Greater Siouxland.
On our Talk of the Town program recently, we had a chance to talk to Heidi Suah, who represents those programs. She tells us more about them.
She tells us what the foster grandparents do with the students.
She says they’re always looking for more foster grandparents.
Suah says the other program usually has the same age of volunteers, but the program serves people on the opposite end of the age spectrum.
She says most of the seniors that they serve say — before they have their senior companion — that they are lonely. And most say they are less lonely after they get their senior companion.
Suah tells us a grant covers 90 percent of their services. Volunteers do get a little money for helping out as well. They receive a $4 per hour stipend, mileage, and some meal reimbursement.
For more information on the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs, visit senior-programs.org or call their office at 712-476-2628. Again, volunteers are always needed.
