Typically, when people hear the word "adopt," they don't think of adopting a grandparent.
While there are several service opportunities, sophomore and volunteer coordinator in the management fellows program, Hope Jordan and Elise Nguyen were inspired to create a new program, Adopt a Grandparent. As a result, students on campus have the option to have a grandparent and the elderly could have a grandchild. This is important because many members of the elderly community in Greencastle do not receive regular visitors.
After joining the program in the fall, they were given permission to start service work this semester. The two heard from a friend that Hickory Creek, a senior citizen center in Greencastle, was looking for volunteers. After visiting the location, the girls fell in love with the people: both the staff members and the elderly citizens.
"We came up with the idea of pairing up with some of the elderly people because they are just so sweet and they don't have a lot of people who visit them," Jordan said.
Adopt a Grandparent rapidly grew in popularity. At the onset of the program there were 52 volunteers for the 48 residence, meaning there were more volunteers present than residents, which Jordan was excited about. Some of the volunteers include sophomore Taz Kadam, sophomore Molly Wilder, sophomore Jake Weeks, junior Abigail Emmert, junior Mary Arnold, sophomore Vlad Stankov and sophomore Leann Burke.
While the volunteers were present at the nursing home, they had no set agenda of activities and were assigned a grandparent.
"A lot of people clicked with their grandparents," Jordan said.
Her grandparent, Ester, enjoyed getting her nails painted. Other grandparents just wanted to talk to the volunteers or tell them stories about their lives. Even if the volunteers just came by for a weekly dinner, they were able to brighten the lives of the elderly.
Last Sunday, Adopt a Grandparent threw its biggest event: senior prom.
"We had a good turn out," Nguyen said. "It was a good opportunity not just to get to know your grandparents a little bit better and have fun with them, but also a good opportunity to network with other DePauw students."
The event was similar to a high school prom. The elderly dressed up for the occasion and most of them danced, even if they were in wheelchairs.
For students who wish to get involved, starting the process of adopting a grandparent is a simple one.
"All you have to do is contact Hope Jordan, or if you know someone else who is in it, contact them, and we can help get you set up," Jake Weeks, a sophomore who volunteers for the program said.
In the future, Jordan hopes that this program will become a yearly event. She noted that she is very thankful for the dedicated team of volunteers that she had this semester and is looking forward to having additional volunteers next semester. Jordan hopes to see a great turn out at that time While she is off campus next fall, a new volunteer coordinator will be in charge of the program.
Although the program only lasted for eight weeks this semester, Weeks sees great potential in the program.
"If anyone wants to [be involved,] and they couldn't this semester," Weeks said. "I'd say keep at it because there is always next semester, and it is so rewarding,"
Overall, Jordan thinks that the program did its job by serving a portion of the Greencastle population that is, in a lot of ways, underserved.