By Theresa Knapp 

Bright Beginnings Center adjustment counselor Kelly Alley started the “Grandfriend” program last school year. 

In the program, Hopedale volunteer “grandparent figures” are matched with a BBC classroom. During biweekly one-hour visits, elders and youth share a story and an activity as a way to learn more about each other. 

Alley said, “The Grandfriend program was created last year out of my interest in the many benefits of the elders in the community interacting on a regular basis with the youngest members of our community.” 

“Due to the [coronavirus] pandemic, it wasn’t possible for us to visit local assisted living residences so I reached out to Carole Mullen at the Council on Aging to see if we could partner with them to identify some members of the Council who would be interested in volunteering to visit our preschool and Pre-K classrooms. We had a few volunteers last year and they were fantastic.” 

This year the program grew and now all BBC classrooms have a Grandfriend. 

Alley said, “Our hope for our Grandfriends is that the joy that our youngest learners have for being at school and interacting with the adults in the building, including Grandfriends, brings joy to their lives.” 

One of those Grandfriends is Paula Cerulli whom Alley said is “one of our most loved Grandfriends” and is “truly what I envisioned when I created the Grandfriends program.” 

Cerulli loves the program and is thrilled to be back for a second year. 

“It is an honor to be in a classroom and read to the children, their welcoming smiles and joy warm my heart. I hope the children look forward to my visit as much as I look forward to being with them.”

And they do.

When student Leighton Schiloski (age 3) was asked about “Miss Paula,” a huge smile came over her face and she said, “She’s our Grandfriend!” 

Leighton said she likes visits from Miss Paula because “She’s funny…She brings me toys. She sings and dances…and reads to us.” 

To potential Grandfriends, Cerulli says, “If you have the joy of children and the love of learning in your heart it is a wonderful collaboration. I cannot say enough wonderful compliments regarding the faculty and staff at the school. They, too, always make me feel welcome. The program brightens both of our days!”