Two grants awarded to STARS program

A pair of intergenerational programs that serve RCS students and local retirees recently received two grants through the Community Foundation for the Capital Region.

The E. Eileen Rea Fund donated $1,000 to support the Seniors Teaching and Reaching out to Students (STARS) program, which recruits local retirees to tutor students at the A.W. Becker Elementary School and the P.B. Coeymans Elementary School.  S

STARS volunteers work directly in the classroom setting where they give children individualized attention and support to help them master reading and other academic subjects.  Schedules are flexible depending on the volunteer’s availability and a $5 hourly stipend is available to help with gas costs.  STARS volunteers typically contribute two to 10 hours weekly.

The Standish Family Fund awarded a $500 mini-grant to support the Star Helpers Program, which brings RCS middle- and high-school students to Van Allen Senior Apartments in Glenmont two to three times monthly to spend time with senior mentors.  The grant is being used to purchase craft materials and healthy snacks and to underwrite the costs of field trips for the students and their senior friends to visit the U.S.S. Slater Destroyer Escort and the Schenectady Planetarium Museum.

Twenty-three STARS volunteers contributed more than 4,100 hours of service to elementary school students during the 2006-07 school year.        Additional STARS volunteers are needed for this school year.  For further information, contact Karen Harmon at 439-1505 or kharmon@nycap.rr.com.