Many students at College Baptist experience an “adoption” into a local family in the transition from home to college life, but the GOAL Adopt-a-Grandparent program allows college students to adopt adults.
“Get a grandparent. Invest in someone who is far older and wiser than yourself. Oftentimes they’re lonely or don’t have many people to talk to, and we can learn a lot from older generations,” junior Christian Manna said.
The Adopt-a-Grandparent GOAL program partners with the Hillsdale County Medical Care Facility, HCMCF, to facilitate weekly meetings between students and elderly residents building community through relationships.
Harrison Layman, a junior and current leader of the Adopt-a-Grandparent program, resurrected the program after its decline from the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
“In my two years running the program, a lot of my focus and energy has gone into reviving Adopt-A-Grandparent’s original relationally focused mission,” Layman said. “It took a little while to rebuild a base of regular volunteers after COVID-19 restrictions, but this semester over 20 students meet every week with residents of the HCMCF.”
In addition to individual gatherings, the Adopt-a-Grandparent program also participates in HCMCF events. Since 2022 the program began hosting a swing dance for the residents in the Fall, which draws a large crowd from the facility, Layman said.
“Now they’ve asked us to come to a prom they’re doing on April 16,” Layman said. “It is probably my favorite Adopt-A-Grandparent event of the year. There’s nothing like watching the residents light up as they watch people dance to the big band music of their generation.”
Manna has shared the past two years with her adopted grandma, Eve.
“I’ve loved bringing my family to meet Eve, and letting those people important to me get to know each other,” Manna said. “One of my favorites is when I brought my gecko to show her. He ended up quite liking her, choosing to sit on her shoulder for most of the visit.”
Once she began volunteering with the program, Manna said she wanted to prioritize time with Eve.
“Once you start I don’t see how you can stop because you’re building a relationship with a person, which is something you can’t just walk away from, Manna said.“It brings both of us joy. She looks forward to my visits every week, so of course I keep participating.”
Grady Stevenson, a sophomore and volunteer in the program, said he recommends this program for others.
“I think others should get involved in the program because it’s a wonderful opportunity to brighten the day of some lovely elderly people who could really use a friend,” Stevenson said.
