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Schools utilizing beneficial interaction between elderly and children

COLUMBIANA — Statistics show that the elderly benefit from interacting with school-aged kids and that students in turn also benefit from being around them.

Because of that, the Columbiana School District is developing a partnership of sorts with the Whispering Pines Assisted Living Facility, which has helped out with the backpack program and will also have a few residents visit the elementary school this week for Grandparents week.

Superintendent Don Mook has said that elderly people who get to be around young people tend to live longer and also have a more positive outlook.

In turn, young people who get to be around the elderly also benefit through having a mentor-type relationship with someone of another generation.

The district also has another opportunity to get older people involved through a program pitched to the board of education by Craig Brown on Tuesday.

Brown is the coordinator for the county’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), and he told the board about Senior Corps, which finds volunteers 55 years old and older to get involved in their community.

“We are trying to get seniors involved in schools, whether through mentoring or tutoring programs. Benefits are all across the board,” Brown said.

All volunteers go through a criminal and sex offender background check at no cost to the district, and the program also offers supplemental insurance free of cost.

“This is our first foray into the schools here in Columbiana County,” he said. “It’s a really strong program.”

Volunteers can do as much volunteer time as they like, whether that’s several hours or four hours a month, he added.

Generally, those who volunteer in the schools are encouraged to volunteer at least two hours a week to maintain a steady presence.

More information about the Senior Corps program can be found online at https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/senior-corps.

kwhite@mojonews.com

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