Companion Programs of Greater Siouxland, designed to support local students and homebound seniors, is actively seeking new volunteers as they look to expand their presence across nine counties.
Heidi Suah, Program Director of the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs of Greater Siouxland, was recently featured on The Daily Grind to discuss the mission, history, and growing needs of both initiatives.
Operated through AmeriCorps Seniors and sponsored by the Rock Valley Rotary, the dual programs serve Woodbury, Cherokee, Sioux, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, and Plymouth counties in Iowa, along with Dakota County in Nebraska and Union County in South Dakota.
Connecting Generations in the Classroom
The Foster Grandparent Program, originally established in Rock Valley in 1974, places adults aged 55 and older into daycares and local schools spanning pre-K through 12th grade. Volunteers assist children with special needs, help students who struggle with language skills, and mentor students in core subjects such as reading, math, and science.
While many volunteers choose to work with younger children in kindergarten or first grade, others assist older students, including high schoolers. Sewell highlighted the profound influence these volunteers have on students who may lack nearby family.
“A lot of those kids that they’re interacting with don’t have grandparents who live close by, or they don’t have grandparents at all who are around,” Sewell said. “And so having that intergenerational connection for them is of utmost importance in my world.”
Supporting Independence for Seniors
The Senior Companion Program, launched in 2006, focuses on helping older adults and adults with disabilities maintain their independence at home. Volunteers provide companionship, play games, and offer crucial transportation for grocery shopping or medication pickups.
Because many senior services carry high costs, the free nature of the Senior Companion Program provides vital assistance to clients facing financial barriers. Beyond physical support, the relationships built often turn into lasting friendships.
“The heart of my volunteers is what keeps me going for sure, because I know their love and passion for the people they work with and serve,” Sewell shared. “And I love seeing who they are as people… to be giving people and to be people who volunteer.”
How to Get Involved
Both programs require volunteers to commit a minimum of five hours per week, with a maximum limit of 40 hours per week. Volunteers receive monthly in-service training and a small stipend. Prospective volunteers must complete an application, pass a digital federal background check, and complete initial orientation.
Though participation dipped during the pandemic, program leaders hope to grow numbers back to pre-COVID levels. Currently, the organization oversees 30 foster grandparents across 16 schools and 50 senior companions, but maintains waiting lists for clients needing services.
Members of the public interested in volunteering or applying for companion services can call 712-476-2628 to get started.
