Volunteer program in FCPS brings students, seniors together

A volunteer program that puts retired Fairfax County residents into Title 1 elementary schools now works with a number of Richmond Highway-area schools and plans to keep expanding around the county.

GrandInvolve, which started in 2014 at Crestwood Elementary School in Springfield, brings retirees and other volunteers into schools that could use a few helping — and experienced — hands. The program is now in 16 elementary schools in Mount Vernon and Lee districts, which host close to half of the Title 1 schools in FCPS (schools with a high percentage of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch). The organization hopes to begin working with seven more schools in those districts in 2019.

The program has been a hit since from the start, attracting interest from retirees and schools grateful for the help. It’s also popular with the students, who have forged warm relationships with the volunteers.

“When you walk in the school, the children recognize you,” said Dorothy Keenan, the founder of GrandInvolve. “In some of the classrooms they clap if you walk in, and they walk over and give you a hug.”

Keenan, CEO of the 503(c)(3) charity, is retired from Fairfax County, where she worked as director of senior centers. During that time she had the idea to come up with a program that paired seniors who wanted to use their experience and expertise to help younger generations. She also hoped to introduce older county residents to new cultures and create a better understanding of the backgrounds and needs of newer residents.

“It was always a dream of mine to have a large-scale intergenerational program,” Keenan said.

The idea instantly caught on with people Keenan had worked with in the past, and by the end of the first year there were nearly a dozen volunteers participating in GrandInvolve at Crestwood. Since then the program has grown to more than 100 volunteers, and during the last school year GrandInvolve volunteers combined for more than 3,000 hours of service, said Keenan.

“They have years of experience and knowledge,” Keenan said. “They are looking to make a difference in the world. They’re looking to leave a legacy.”

GrandInvolve volunteers are asked to come in for at least one hour once a week, but Keenan said many choose to do more. Volunteers work with students on subjects like reading and math, or activities like knitting. Keenan said many of the schools that GrandInvolve works with had not had any volunteer program previously, and were quite happy for the helping hands.

You don’t have to be a grandparent or over a certain age to be part of GrandInvolve. Cathy Hosek, who has three children attending schools in the Mount Vernon district, began volunteering at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School last fall. She serves at GrandInvolve’s “School Action Team” leader there, and also started a knitting program at the school.

Hosek now helps recruit volunteers for GrandInvolve, which she said strengthens the relationship between the school and the surrounding community.

“I am excited to get the word out about this program, because it helps get the whole community behind the schools,” Hosek said. “I started a knitting club … and some of the parents are interested in helping out with that. It is such a great program.”

GrandInvolve eventually hopes to have volunteers working with every Title 1 school in the county (there’s current 46). Since the majority of the county’s Title 1 schools are in the southern and eastern parts of the county, Keenan focused on growing the program in the Mount Vernon District first, and then moved to Lee District. Next she plans on expanding to schools in Mason District.

GrandInvolve has a Memorandum of Understanding with Fairfax County Public Schools, and Keenan has worked directly with Mount Vernon Supervisor Dan Storck and Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay to grow the program.

“I can’t say enough about GrandInvolve and its volunteers,” said McKay. “What started out as a small pilot program at Crestwood Elementary School … has turned into one of the most successful initiatives I’ve seen here in our Title I schools. It’s both heartwarming and inspiring to see the sharing of knowledge and experiences between the volunteers and our youth.”

Ways to learn more about GrandInvolve:

LDACO meeting. GrandInvolve will present at this month’s Lee District Association of Civic Organizations (LDACO) meeting on Wednesday at the Franconia Governmental Center. The meeting begins at 7:30.

Fingerprinting program. GrandInvolve will be hosting a Mentorworks Fingerprinting Session on Jan. 29 at the John Marshall Library (see map). It runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Match Game. GrandInvolve will host a workshop March 7 at the John Marshall Library in Rose Hill. The presentation will include a workshop designed to help volunteers match their skills, hobbies and passions with opportunities in the community. The meeting starts at 1:30 p.m. and runs until 3 p.m.