Helen Cosgrove has been a foster grandmother for seven years. At 83-years-old, she said she doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon.

“The kids are all fantastic. When they come up to you and hug you and say, ‘Grandma I love you.’ Makes you feel real good,” said Cosgrove.

The Foster Grandparent Program runs in 40 elementary schools, daycare centers and Headstart programs throughout Cambria County. In total, there are about 80-90 foster grandparents who help the kids throughout the day with academics, meals and playtime.

Three grandmas are over 90-years-old and some have been foster grandparents for more than 20 years.

Grandparents need to be at least 55-years-old. They work between 15 to 40 hours a week and receive a stipend of $2.65 an hour.

Each school recommends children who could benefit from the extra attention, whether they have special needs, learning disabilities or are just shy. Grandparents are assigned four children during the school year, but the relationship lasts beyond the end of the program.

“The seniors get recognition, they can foster a sense of accomplishment, a sense of self-esteem. In turn, they’re giving that to the children. They’re fostering self-esteem with the kids. It’s something that does last. A lot of them keep in touch over the years and they just watch them grow,” said Amanda Milne, Director of the Cambria County Foster Grandparent Program.

Wanda Andrews doesn’t have any blood-related grandchildren, but said she loves her foster grandchildren as if they were her own. 

“It keeps me going because I don’t have no grandkids and to come here and them saying ‘grandma,’ that makes my day,” said Andrews, a foster grandmother.

Program directors are hoping to recruit more foster grandparents before the next training on March 20th. They also want to bring the Foster Grandparent Program into more schools in the county.