At 89 years old, Zenaida Manalang still rides the bus to school five days a week.
Zenaida has served as a Foster Grandparent for 25 years and has no plans to stop. Every week, she spends 25 hours volunteering with students and teachers at an Anaheim elementary school.
“I love kids. I enjoy them,” said Zenaida.
Before becoming a Foster Grandparent, Zenaida dedicated much of her life to her family. Born in the Philippines in 1937, she raised 5 children and now has 15 grandchildren. A neighbor introduced her to the Foster Grandparent Program when she was looking for a meaningful way to give back to her community.
She started volunteering at Fairview Developmental Center in 2001. She later moved to a local elementary school, where she provides encouragement, support, and care to students and staff alike.
Funded by the federal AmeriCorps program, Foster Grandparents must be age 55 and older. They serve as mentors, role models, and companions to children and adults with developmental disabilities in schools and early learning programs.
Zenaida says that serving as a Foster Grandparent makes her feel happy, included, and useful. It keeps her active, healthy, and motivated while allowing her to make a positive difference in the lives of children every day.
“I’m widowed and I’m bored,” Zenaida said. “I want to work. I want to work with the school. I want to work with the kids.”
She treasures the relationships she has built with the students and teachers. Her dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to service continue to inspire us and everyone around her. Thank you, Zenaida!
If you are 55 or older and interested in volunteering, visit the Foster Grandparent and AmeriCorps Seniors programs webpage to learn more. Small stipends are available to support low-income senior volunteers make a difference!