Lucille North volunteers as a Foster Grandparent at Advance Head Start in Houston.
Houston, TX – 66 year old Lucille North spends six hours a day at the Advance Head Start Program most every day of the school week not because she is paid to but because she believes in the power of Grandparents and the mentoring they provide.
“I have always loved children. I was the oldest of 8 children,” said Lucille North. “They just gravitate toward me. I love working with and teaching them knowing that I have a little bitty hand in their education.”
Volunteers like Lucille North will be honored for their dedication by the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC of Houston and the Foster Grandparents Program of Harris County at their annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm at the Houston Food Bank.
The Foster Grandparents Program enables underserved individuals age 55 and older to remain physically and mentally active and to improve their self-esteem through participation in needed community services. At the same time, it enables special and exceptional needs children to improve their physical, mental, emotional and social development through one-on-one interaction with a volunteer.
There are currently 68 volunteers serving 570 youth and children in 33 locations which include schools in Houston, Pasadena, South Houston, Head Start, Harris County Psychiatric Center and at homeless shelters which include The Bridge in Pasadena, Star of Hope Mission and Santa Maria Hostel.
Lucille has nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren of her own, the oldest just graduated from college with two degrees. And she still reads to the youngest of them her favorite book, The Little Engine that Could. Now in her third year as a Foster Grandparent she is spreading her belief that children can do great things.
“Any person that takes an interest in a child to sit down and talk to them, read to them and explain to them, no matter what their age, will have a big impact on them. And those children grow up knowing what is right and wrong and to be proud of themselves,” said Lucille.
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming an advocate for the Foster Grandparents Program please contact Bea Rivas at brivas@erjcchouston.org. Visit www.erjcchouston.org for more information about our programs and services. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Evelyn Rubenstein JCC Houston is a non-profit organization that provides quality programs for all members of the family including infants, school-aged children, teens, adults and seniors. Evelyn Rubenstein JCC provides more than $350,000 in scholarship aid to area families in need thanks to the generous support received, in part, from the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston and the United Way.