Staff Writer
In difficult times, they are there to hold hands and provide a calming influence.
They are the volunteers of the Jacksonville Chapter of the Foster Grandparent Program and they took time to recognize their past and their present Friday.
The past was remembered with the naming of a volunteer award after the organization’s founding director, Harriett Day. She became the chapter’s founding director in 1972 and continued her involvement until 1990, when she retired at the age of 75. She died in 2008 at the age of 92.
The Foster Grandparents Program supplies seniors 60 years or older to programs, including Head Start, day care centers, public schools, youth detention centers, parent-child centers, hospitals and the Police Athletic League to help children with special needs.
While at these facilities, foster grandparents serve children who are mentally disabled, visually or hearing impaired, emotionally or physically abused, physically handicapped or learning disabled. Foster grandparents assist in the development of motor skills, self care, learning skills and independence. They serve as mentors and tutors to special needs children.
“Growing up in the Day family was quite an experience,” said Circuit Court Judge Lance Day, Harriett Day’s son. “One of my favorite memories was going down to the Foster Grandparent Program. It was like I had a room full of grandmas and grandpas.”
The Harriett Day Award will be presented to those volunteers serving 20 or more years in the program and emulate Day’s passion for “making a difference.” The first two recipients were Eula Mayes, 83, and Elease Green, 87.
“We intend on carrying out her legacy of making a difference with this award,” said Maliza McMillan, Social Services Supervisor.
Day thanked the organization for the recognition and expressed his appreciation for the continued efforts of the volunteers in the program.
“What you do is such a great service,” said Day. “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
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