Sharon Gass will never forget the moment she heard the words, “Look Granny, I can read this all by myself!”
But the little girl was not her familial granddaughter, she was a local student in the local Foster Grandparent Program, which has connected senior citizens across Chattanooga with students in need of one-on-one assistance in the classroom for 36 years.
A foster grandparent is someone who can be a mentor, tutor or caregiver to a child in need of extra attention. The main goal for the program is to make sure the children are able to reach their full potential and be successful – both in and out of the classroom.
Gass has been a foster grandparent for three years. She said one of her favorite things about being involved with the program is seeing the children full of happiness when they succeed.
“To me, it’s very rewarding. The look on their faces when they reach their goal makes it all worth it,” she said.