Foster Grandparents

About the Program

The Charles City Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) has been in existence in North Central Iowa since 1972 and the city of Charles City became sponsor of the program in 1990. According to Volunteering in America, Iowa ranks tenth in the nation in volunteering with 765,675 volunteers per year and 75.03 million hours of service, an average of 34 hours per resident.

Volunteer Focus

They focus on helping children meet their developmental and educational needs in reading, spelling, mathematics, writing, and social skills. Foster grandparents volunteering in day care centers promote infant and toddler development in the area of trusting relationships with adults. This enables the child to grow up to believe in themselves and become confident learners.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Foster Grandparent Program is to bring together an elderly person and a young child in specific ways that help each to grow in giving, caring, and learning.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Foster Grandparent Program you must be at least 55 years of age, meet an income guideline, and like being with and helping children. To apply for this program, click here for the application form and return it to the Foster Grandparent office located at 624 N. Main Street in Charles City.

Service Area

Currently, 80 seniors volunteer in the program, working primarily with children in day care and grade school at 22 sites in the communities of Charles City, Clear Lake, Marble Rock, Mason City, Nashua, New Hampton, Nora Springs, Osage, Rockford, Rudd, and St. Ansgar. The grandparent volunteers give back 65,722 hours of service to our local children.

The program serves children at: