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- #AZhelpSeniors AZHelpFamilies #AZhelpteens #AZhelpchildren #AZhelpKids #AZhelpTeachers #AZhelpSchools #AZhelpNonprofits #AZhelpPeopleProject #AZhelpOrganizationsProject #VolunteerGrandmas&Grandpas
- Project Proposal:
We will train senior volunteer “Grandmas” & “Grandpas” in advanced listening techniques so that they can be available to help Children & Teens who need a caring individual to listen to them. The “Listening Tables” will be set up at schools and nonprofit organizations that serve Children & Teens.
Each Listening Table will be decorated to look like they are visiting a grandparent’s house with cookies, candies, or healthy snacks. Volunteer “Grandmas” & “Grandpas” will listen and provide emotional support. They will also be trained in how to intervene and make appropriate referrals if the child or teen is in need of professional help. The child or teen will be given a small handmade gift (eg. a bookmark or keychain) as a reminder of their visit to “Grandma” or “Grandpa”. The hashtag for this specific project is #VolunteerGrandmas&Grandpas
- Goal this Project Supports:
Assist Families of Children & Teens in finding Quick and Easy Access to Help & Resources.
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- What You can do to Help on this Project. How our Community can Support this Project.
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Option #1—If you would like to help a little…Please forward this link and/or information about this project post to any potentially interested individuals, groups, clubs, volunteers, nonprofits, or other organizations. Let’s get the power of the Grapevine working to help support this project. Help us to get the word out! Who do you know who would be interested in this project. Help us by sending this information out through your Social Media Channels, by posting the project on your Facebook Page and by sending out a tweet from your Twitter account.
Option #2—If you would like to help a little bit more…Do know of any websites,books, tips or other advice that could be helpful to this project? Have you heard of anyone who has done a similar project from whom we might learn? Do you have connections to people or resources that could help? Please let us know about any individual, group, or organization that you think may be able to help on this project. Who do you know who has experience, information, and/or resources that could be of benefit to this project? We will be happy to contact them directly. You can do this by posting a comment in the at the bottom of this post along with the name, contact information and anything else that you would like us to know about this individual or organization. Or, if you want to get that information to us directly and confidentially, you can contact us directly through the “Contact Us” option on this website.
Option #3—If would like to get involved and help even more, you can help us by assisting with the project needs listed here. The options available and the steps that you can take to get started helping on this project are detailed below.
*****Step #1—If you are a senior who would like to volunteer to be a “Grandma” or “Grandpa”, please let us know through the “Contact Us” option on this website. We will get you started and give you information on the training times and volunteer “Listening Table” locations available. Please reference the title of this project, “CP–Seniors help in Schools—Grandma/Grandpa Listening Tables” when you contact us. Thank you for wanting to provide this wonderful “Listening Table” service to the children & teens who can benefit from the extra emotional support. If you know of someone who would be a great “Grandma” or “Grandpa”, please let them know that their help is needed on this project by forwarding the website link to them.
*****Step #2—If you know of a school or a nonprofit that might like to be involved or if you volunteer or work for a school or nonprofit that may like to participate, please let us know through the “Contact Us” option on this website. Please reference the title of this project, “CP–Seniors help in Schools—Grandma/Grandpa Listening Tables” when you contact us. Thank you for offering this wonderful “Listening Table” service to the children & teens that you serve at your school or organization.
*****Step #3—Will you check to see if anyone you know can provide any of these needed items? You can help this project move forward by helping to find the needed materials. Donations needed are: card tables, chairs, decorative table cloths, cookies, brownies or healthy snacks.
Option #4—If you are passionate about this type of issue and would like to be even more involved….you can link up with like-minded others. would like to join with others who are working on this issue, you may choose to be part of the “working group” of concerned community members who are also passionate about this issue. They may or may not be assisting with this specific project. They are concerned with making a difference in their community by helping with this issue. As part of the working group on this issue you can meet like-minded individuals, brainstorm of solutions and decide how best to support the individuals & organizations associated with this issue.
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———————————–This is a Crowdsourcing Project——————————————– For this project you will be helping out “virtually”, over the computer. You can just get started on any of the options or steps listed above…no need to contact us or let us know that you want to help. Since this is a crowdsourcing project so you can just jump in and help when you can. When you have a few extra minutes to help…you will know that you are making a difference in your community. With a Crowdsourcing Project you always get to decide how involved you want to be. You also get to decide if you want to work alone or be part of a team. Just think…You can have a positive impact on your community right from your home computer! Thanks for caring enough to get involved! Every little effort helps! Together we can make a positive difference in our world! To Find out All the Ways You Can Help this Project–Click Here!
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Any questions? If you have questions or would like to become part of the working group, please let us know through the Contact Us option on this website. Thanks for all you do to help your community and the nonprofits and philanthropic groups in our community.
- Reason this Action is Needed:
School counselors and social workers are currently overwhelmed by the sheer number of children/teens that they are responsible for serving. They are saddened by this because they know the kids need more support and time than they are able to give. The “Grandmas” & “Grandpas” at the Listening Tables will help fill the gap between the help that children and teens need and the help that is currently available due to staffing issues.
- Finished Product:
The Listening Tables with volunteer “Grandmas” & “Grandpas” would be available to listen to children & teens at any time that kids have some free time during their school day or nonprofit activities. The card table would be decorated with a “homey” tablecloth, welcoming snacks and a sign that says, “Grandma available for a Visit” or “Welcome–Visitors to Grandpa”. There would be two chairs. One for the volunteer and one for the child/teen. The volunteer “Grandmas” & “Grandpas” would utilize advanced listening techniques to show support, empathy, and validation as needed. After their volunteer shift, appropriate referrals would be made if needed. The volunteer “Grandmas” & “Grandpas” could work closely with social workers and counselors providing information on the children & teens who may need extra support or resources. They could also relieve some of the burden from these professionals by providing listening and emotional support to kids that are doing fine but could benefit from some caring attention.
- Project Posted on:
June 17th, 2014
- Target Date for Completion:
August 12th, 2014. We would like to do a trial run or “Beta test” the project idea at an actual school or nonprofit. We will make any adjustments to the program after that.
September 30th, 2014. We would like to have our first “Grandma” & “Grandpa” Listening Tables in 3 target locations by the spring semester of 2015. We will track results and see how the listening service is received by the children, teens and staff at the organizations. We will make any needed adjustments.
December 31st, 2014. Have enough trained volunteers, participating organizations and donated items to provide 10 locations with a Listening Table with volunteer “Grandmas” & “Grandpas” beginning spring semester 2015.
- Project Code:
AZCPT-2-14