Foster Grandparent Program of San Mateo County Collaborates with Reading Partners; Seeking Volunteers for Spruce Elementary (Stipend)

South San Francisco, CA   January 21, 2020

Submitted by Roy Earnest, MSW Outreach Coordinator, Foster Grandparent Program, Sutter Health – Mills Peninsula Senior Focus

The Foster Grandparent Program (FG Program) of Sutter Health’s Mills-Peninsula Senior Focus, a volunteer program that recruits low-income older adults to assist children in supervised, child services programs has formed a collaboration with Reading Partners, an excellent non-profit literacy program that operates at the Spruce Elementary School in South San Francisco.   With the support of Reading Partners, the FGP has agreed to recruit volunteers who are 55 years of age or older and, after passing a background check, assign them to the Reading Partners Program at Spruce Elementary to serve as tutors with students ranging in ages from five to nine.   

A tax-free monthly stipend of $100 to $200+ per month will be paid to income-eligible volunteers who can make a weekly commitment of 10 hours (or more) per week as a FGP – Reading Partners tutor.  The Reading Partners staff are excellent at training and supporting their volunteers to use their tutoring method and curriculum to enhance a student’s reading skills.  The FG Program will also provide training, a daily lunch allowance and reimbursement for mileage or public transportation to and from Spruce Elementary School.  For those who don’t meet the income eligibility criteria to receive a stipend, they would still be welcome to serve as a Reading Partners tutor but the 10 hours per week requirement would not apply to them.  Any SSF resident age 55 or older who is interested in learning more about this unique “paid” volunteer opportunity is welcome to call the Foster Grandparent Program office and speak with Donna Campi at 650-696-7662 or Roy Earnest at 650-696-3606.