By Nicki Francis, Coordinator of Monmouth County Programs
On February 14th our Grandparent Support Group met for our monthly meeting. This was no ordinary meeting. This meeting was special for so many reasons. The Grandparent Support Group was created to help grandparents who were struggling with raising their grandchildren. It is a collaboration with Wellspring Center for Prevention, The Long Branch Housing Authority, and is funded through a grant from Monmouth County Human Services. Through the years it has changed and morphed into what it is today. Each monthly meeting has a topic that focuses on the senior community. Some of our grandparents are helping to raise their great-grandchildren and find support in the group. Some are using the group to continue friendships and socialize; we know that social isolation is a huge problem for the senior community. Some are active in their churches and communities and turnkey the information to those seniors who don’t belong to the group. They attend for many different reasons, but every month they come to learn, have lunch, and talk about things they need help with. Some topics have included alcohol awareness, prescription drug safety, mental health(depression), financial scams, CBD, and marijuana. We are always welcoming new members and there is always a lively discussion and sharing of important news.
Every month is special, but this month was a little different. Our Grandparents Support Group celebrated 18 years of membership, support, and learning. Our group had the most members in attendance since COVID. Fifteen members were able to come to the February meeting. Even through the pandemic we found a way to meet through phone meetings. Sheets of the monthly topic would be mailed out prior to the meeting so everyone had reference to that month’s topic. Happily, we have returned to in person, pot-luck lunches. We had a chance to celebrate those members who have been in the group since its inception with a special certificate recognizing their dedication and commitment. We had 7 original members who were able to attend. There was also a small memorial for those members who are no longer with us and are missed around the table. The existing members were recognized with a certificate of attendance and a chance to speak about what the group means to them. Each member expressed how blessed they felt to be able to have this support group and learn important information.
If celebrating 18 years wasn’t enough reason to celebrate, there was a special treat for our seniors. In collaboration with Deal Elementary School and Wellspring we held a cross-age inter-generational activity. The Deal third grade students started a plant project in September. They used spider plants that had “babies” and new plants were created with roots and each student got to watch the plant cycle in real time. They soon learned that they had too many plants and reached out to see if they could donate plants to the senior group and do an activity with them. The school PTO donated pots that the students hand decorated for each senior. Before the trip Deal students practiced interview questions and how to speak appropriately to adults. Both the seniors and the 3rd graders were filled with excitement. The meeting started with a pizza party. After eating each person introduced themselves and shared something about them to the group. The group colored together interacting with each other. The students then asked the seniors questions about what life was like when they were 3rd graders. The students were amazed about some of the differences and the seniors talked openly about their lives. It was truly incredible to see the interaction between both. After the interview the students were so happy to present their plant pots to each senior. Each couple got a picture taken to remember their special time together. The seniors appreciated the gift and were excited to take it home and watch it grow.
Throughout the day the Long Branch Housing Authority, Wellspring Staff, and the Deal Elementary School teachers took time to reflect on the incredible day. It was a day to remember. A very special Valentines Day filled with laughter, love, celebration, and making connections.
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