There’s an old adage, it’s better to give than to receive. But the Foster Grandparent Program volunteers get the joy of experiencing both. A little over 100 adults ages 55+ who meet federal low-income guidelines volunteer approximately 6,000 hours a month. They help at-risk or special needs children in Wyandotte County from infancy through high school. They tutor oneon- one, assisting with reading, language development and math. For Foster Grandparent volunteers like Shirley Carter-Ikerd, helping in the classroom is rewarding especially sharing in the excitement as the children start to learn and understand new things. The volunteers, who get a small stipend, receive ongoing training and support. They come from diverse backgrounds, bringing a wide range of life and work experiences to their volunteer assignments.”I teach them something no one else has taught them,” Carter-Ikerd added proudly.

Our Shelves Are Close to Empty
More than 34 million people, including 10 million children, experience food insecurity in the United States. The USDA defines food insecurity as a lack of