We recognize the value of maturity and experience.  Through a variety of volunteer programs, older adults are able to help individuals of all ages.  Volunteers can tutor elementary students in reading and math, provide life skills training to teens and young adults, or serve as a companion to a home-bound older adult. For more information about our volunteer programs, call us at 616-771-9748.

Experience Corps – Tutoring children grades K-3rd  in reading and math.
Experience Corps is an award-winning national program that engages people over 55 in meeting their communities' greatest challenges –helping to increase the reading skills of our children.   Gerontology Network is proud to host the Experience Corps program in Grand Rapids. The program pairs older adults – age 55 or older – with students in kindergarten through third grade, who could benefit from reading and tutoring assistance.  For 12- 15 hours each week, Experience Corps volunteers work with children in neighborhood schools.  Volunteers are trained and supported to help students learn the skills they need to succeed in school and in life. Experience Corps volunteers can help!  More than 80 percent of teachers reported that students who work with Experience Corps members made significant academic progress – a change that is resulting in higher grades, more self-confidence and brighter futures! For more information about the Experience Corps program, call us at 616-771-9748! 
 
Foster Grandparent and Traveling Grannies/Grandpas Programs – Helping educate youth and teach healthy lifestyle choices through volunteerism. Older adults have a lifetime of experience to offer children, and children have unconditional love and unbounded joy to offer to older adults. Together they can gain much from one another.

The Foster Grandparent Program places low-income older adults in classrooms to act as support for the teachers and students. The Grandparents serve 15-20 hours a week in a classroom setting, and become a vital and integral part of the children's educational experience.

The Traveling Grannies/Grandpas are role models that support pregnant and parenting teens, and other at-risk youth 6 to 19 years of age. This program reinforces the Healthy Families Strategy by partnering with schools, neighborhoods, and community organizations to enhance youth and family development. One of our focus areas is to discourage substance abuse by helping the youth understand the effects of substance abuse and find alternative ways of coping with stress and peer pressure. This support also help youth reduce their involvement in crime and violence by promoting positive after-school activities that would discourage gang involvement and help the youth develop skills in dealing with conflict in a positive way. The mission of these services is to provide volunteer opportunities for older adults 60 and older to make contributions of significant human and economical value to children.
If you would like to know more our programs and are a low-income older adult age 60 or over, please give us a call at 616-771-9748.

Senior Companion Program – Providing companionship and support to older adults in need.
Our Senior Companion Program offers volunteer opportunities for low-income people aged 60 and older living in Kent County. Volunteers provide person-to-person, non-medical support and companionship to other older adults with Alzheimer’s disease, chronic mental illness, and developmental disabilities, as well as the physically frail and homebound.

Volunteers who meet income guidelines receive:

• a small non-taxable stipend
• assistance with transportation
• daily meal
• on-duty accident/liability insurance
• annual health screening
• recognition