The grandparent mentorship program is celebrating a milestone anniversary this year. Seniors For Kids Society, a Cochrane grass roots organization, set out to connect seniors to youth 20 years ago, beginning with Holy Spirit School. Now, after two decades of running the program, board members, seniors, school staff and students took time to celebrate and reflect on the impact it's had. "It's so beneficial for the seniors that come in. Some are, you know, feeling a little bit lonely or things are quieter now in retirement," said Lynn Noble, program co-ordinator with the society. "It's a great way for them to connect with community youth and it's nice for the kids too because they learn so much from the seniors that just come in." The programs, which run for 45 minutes each week, are pre-planned and often involve reading to the children, playing games or making crafts. "They're not in a hurry and they sit and just visit with the students for 45 minutes,"Noble said. "What a gift that is - someone's time." "It's just helping to build a stronger community and stronger connections within Cochrane." The program started after a woman moved to Cochrane from the U.S. and her children started missing their grandparents. It's since turned into a community-wide initiative and has been implemented in the majority of elementary schools in Cochrane and area. Pauline Churnoby, who started in the winter of 1997 – the society's inaugural year – joined as a way to make community connections. "I wanted to do some volunteering. I didn't have that much to do at home, we were new in the community," Churnoby said. She has nine grandkids, though none live nearby - some live in Ontario, one lives in Stony Plain and another in Medicine Hat. "You didn't have the same contact as when they live right near you," Churnoby said. "Favourite aspects is seeing the kids," she said. "You know, thinking of doing projects and things - they enjoy it. And they tell me, 'I missed you, where were you?" if you didn't make it. So it gives you a good feeling." Churnoby will be entering her 21st year of the program next fall. "I just enjoy the program, I love the kids. It's good for me and it's good for them," she said. Lucy Irmen, Grade 4 and Elizabeth Vincent, Grade 6 are two of Chunoby's students. "She's really, really, really nice and she always asks us how our days are going and she looks really pretty. I'm always excited because when we do crafts she always helps me," Irmen said. "We always play games." "She is super kind and super amazing. She's the best grandparent I could have," Vincent said. Seniors for Kids has 45 senior volunteers mentoring more than 100 students in eight area schools.
