Foster Grandparents feted in annual Charles City appreciation event
Foster Grandparents Director Jennifer Lantz (second from left) presented Foster Grandparent of the Year Awards to (from left) Mitchell County Grandparent Martha Hoevet, Floyd County Grandparent Diane Winter, Chickasaw County Grandparent LaVonne Pleggenkuhle and Cerro Gordo County Grandparent LaDonna Norris. Winter was also named the 2024 Foster Grandparent of the Year. Press photo by Bob Steenson
By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com
A room full of “grandmas” dressed in red smocks gathered in the community room at St. John Lutheran Church recently for an annual event – Appreciation Day for the Foster Grandparent Program.
Program Director Jennifer Lantz said there are now a total of 53 Foster Grandparents in the program. Although it is open to men and women, currently all the “grandparents” are “grandmas.”
The number of volunteers dropped significantly during the pandemic years, but are now coming back up. “This year I am proud to say that we added 21 new Foster Grandmas to our program,” Lantz said.
The daylong event on Thursday, April 25, included fun and games, announcements, lunch, entertainment by Pastor Drew McHolm and his wife, Jesse Boatright, of the Little Brown Church in Nashua, door prizes and awards – lots and lots of awards.
One of the highlights of the annual event is the announcement of each county’s Foster Grandparent of the Year, and the program’s overall Foster Grandparent of the Year. This year’s winners were:
• Cerro Gordo County – Ladonna Norris.
• Chickasaw County – Lavonne Pleggenkuhle.
• Mitchell County – Martha Hoevet.
• Floyd County Foster Grandparent of the Year and the 2024 Foster Grandparent of the Year – Diane Winter from Charles City Middle School.
In this area, Foster Grandparents is a four-county program, based in and supported by the city of Charles City, and providing one-on-one attention, support and academic help to children in more than 20 schools, preschools and child care centers in Floyd, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw and Mitchell counties.
“Through their wisdom, experience, and unconditional care, these volunteers not only help children develop essential skills and confidence, but also form deep, intergenerational bonds that enrich both the lives of the volunteers and the children they serve,” according to the Foster Grandparent Program, which is a partner with AmeriCorps Seniors.
Other awards and recognitions handed out at the event include:
• Daily Point of Light Award – Bernice Voelker, Charles City Lincoln Elementary School.
• Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, led through AmeriCorps and bestowed by the president of the U.S. to recognize individuals and groups that have given more than 4,000 hours of service over their lifetime – Aletha Powell, Alice Embertson, Bernice Voelker, Cindy Kinney, Diane Winter, Donna Hulion, Jackie Ferch, LaDonna Norris, Martha Hoevet, Mavis Beenen, Patty Martin, Patti Mork, Rose Leichtman, Sherelea Tumilson, Vicki Inman, Wanda Ward, Carol Pollard, Connie Walker, Donna Feistner, Haila Reinhardt, Jayne Hansen and Renae Weipert.
Individual years of service awards were given to:
• New Foster Grandparents – Peggy Baker, Linda Betels, Sharon Bormann, Sally Cole, Sally Engen, Lisa Floe, Tammie Garber, Doy Gilbert, Sue Glissendorf, Mary Harrington, Ceclinia Hodina, Lynette McCabe, Ginger Meyer, Tonia Mohring, Margaret Rodgers, Amber Soria, Sandra Stone, Carol Tesch, Dixie Wakeman, Viginia Witham and Michelle Young.
• One to five years of service – Kathleen Eppley, Donna Dunlap, Claudia Herman, Patti Mork, LaVonne Pleggenkuhle, Haila Reinhardt, Dawn Seidel, Mayetta Usher, Janet Johnson, Carnette Starr, Donna Hulion, Carmen Ramsay, Annie Stallworth, Connie Walker, Renae Weipert and Jayne Hansen.
• Six to 10 years – Donna Feistner, Carol Pollard, Diane Winter, Cindy Kinney, Patty Martin, LaDonna Norris, Aletha Berding-Powell, Martha Hoevet and Rose Leichtman.
• 11 to 15 years – Vicki Inman, Wanda Ward, Jackie Ferch and Alice Embretson.
• 16 years – Mavis Beenen.
• 18 years – Sherelea Tumilson.
• 22 years – Bernice Voelker.
Director Lantz also thanked the members of the program’s advisory board, Steve Diers, Jeremy Wilson, Jean Boley, Phillip Knighten, Sandy Pleggenkuhle, Diane Winter, Wanda Ward, Machelle Forsyth and Jim Jorgensen.
She also gave special thanks to field coordinator Jean Boley for all her help and work with the program.
Lantz thanked the sites that have Foster Grandparents work with their kids, saying, “Site directors, teachers, principals and their assistants make our Foster Grandparents feel welcomed and needed in their classrooms.”
“Some of our grandparents just began their journey while others have been in our program for years. You give our Foster Grandparents something to look forward to every day along with the hundreds of children in the area,” Lantz said.
New Foster Grandparents Peggy Baker, Linda Betels, Sharon Bormann, Sally Cole, Sally Engen, Lisa Floe, Tammie Garber, Doy Gilbert, Sue Glissendorf, Mary Harrington, Ceclinia Hodina, Lynette McCabe, Ginger Meyer, Tonia Mohring, Margaret Rodgers, Amber Soria, Sandra Stone, Carol Tesch, Dixie Wakeman, Virginia Witham and Michelle Young were recognized for their beginning service with the program, at the Charles City Foster Grandparents Program Appreciation Day held Thursday, April, 25, at St. John Lutheran church. Press photo by Bob SteensonDawn Seidel, Mayetta Usher, Haila Reinhardt, LaVonne Pleggenkuhle, Patti Mork, Kathleen Eppley, Donna Dunlap and Claudia Herman were recognized for one year with the Foster Grandparents Program. Press photo by Bob SteensonCarnette Starr and Janet Johnson were recognized for two years with the Foster Grandparents Program. Press photo by Bob SteensonConnie Walker, Annie Stallworth and Renae Weipert, along with Carmen Ramsey (not present) were recognized for four years with the Foster Grandparents Program. Press photo by Bob SteensonJayne Hansen was recognized for five years with the Foster Grandparents Program. Press photo by Bob SteensonDonna Feistner and Carol Pollard were recognized for six years with the Foster Grandparents Program. Press photo by Bob SteensonDiane Winter was recognized for eight years with the Foster Grandparents Program. Press photo by Bob SteensonLaDonna Norris, Cindy Kinney, Aletha Berding-Powell and Patty Martin were recognized for nine years with the Foster Grandparents Program. Press photo by Bob SteensonMartha Hoevet and Rose Leichtman were recognized for 10 years with the Foster Grandparents Program. Press photo by Bob SteensonVicki Inman and Wanda Ward were recognized for 11 years with the Foster Grandparent Program. Press photo by Bob SteensonJackie Ferch was recognized for 13 years with the Foster Grandparents Program. Press photo by Bob SteensonAlice Embretson was recognized for 15 years with the Foster Grandparents Program. Press photo by Bob SteensonMavis Beenen was recognized for 16 years with the Foster Grandparents Program. Press photo by Bob SteensonBernice Voelker was recognized for 22 years with the Charles City Foster Grandparents Program, and was also announced as the program’s Daily Points of Light Award winner. Press photo by Bob SteensonSteve Diers, the Charles City city administrator and master of ceremonies for the Charles City Foster Grandparents Appreciation Day held Thursday, April 25, at St. John Lutheran Church, presents an appreciation citation to Jennifer Lantz, director of the Foster Grandparents Program. Press photo by Bob SteensonCharles City Foster Grandparents Advisory Board members include (from Left) Steve Diers, Diane Winter, Sandy Pleggenkuhle, Wanda Ward and Jean Boley. Other board members not present are Jeremy Wilson, Phillip Knighten, Machelle Forsyth and Jim Jorgensen. Press photo by Bob SteensonThe Foster Grandparents Penny Wars fundraiser this year raised $2,053.78. Top classes were, from left, Mrs. Rawn’s class at Osage Lincoln Elementary School, represented by Carol Pollard, which raised $132.64; Mrs. Elliot’s class at Charles City Lincoln Elementary School, represented by Annie Stallworth, which raised $135.99; Mrs. Staudt’s class at RRMR Elementary School, represented by Donna Dunlap, which raised $149.48; and in first place, raising $185.47, Mrs. Reicks’ class at New Hampton Elementary, represented by Claudia Herman. Press photo by Bob SteensonFoster Grandparents Director Jennifer Lantz (right) presents a gift to Field Coordinator Jean Boley for her work supporting the Foster Grandparents program. Lantz noted that this past year was especially difficult because they lost their longtime office assistant Colleen Ortmeyer, who died shortly after retiring in December, after more than 20 years with the program. Press photo by Bob SteensonFoster Grandparents and representatives of schools and child care centers gathered Thursday, April 25, at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Charles City for a day of appreciation and celebration of the Charles City Foster Grandparent Program that covers four counties. Press photo by Bob SteensonRepresentatives of the more than 20 schools, preschools and child care centers with Foster Grandparents from the Charles City-based program receive apreciation awards at the Foster Grandparent Appreciation Day held Thursday, April 25, at St. John Lutheran Church in Charles City. Press photo by Bob Steenson
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