By TONIA ANDRUS
BYU students can find opportunities to reach out and serve others in the adopt-a-grandparent program.
Student volunteers can go in groups or pairs to visit and befriend local elderly people.
'The time commitment isn't that great but it really makes a difference,' said Jeremy Wells, a sophomre form Tacoma, Wash., majoring in business management. Volunteers commit one hour a week to listen and get acquainted with an adopted grandparent.
JeVonne McDonald, an undeclared major from Bellevue, Wash., said she signed up for the program because, 'I visited elderly back home and I miss it.'
Chris Woods, a junior majoring in music, also visited elderly in his home town of Lodi, Calif., and said he also wanted to get involved in Provo. 'It's nothing spectacular, but it makes a difference in someone's life. It's made more of a difference in my life than anyone else's,' Woods said.
Woods said he became involved because, 'I felt like I needed to pay more attention to people besides myself.' Woods said he prepared Christmas songs and played his guitar in six senior citizen centers. He said he had such a good experience that he later prepared songs from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s for another program.
'There were people who couldn't remember their children's names, but could remember every word to their favorite song,' Woods said of the people he visited. Woods plans on using his guitar to put on musical programs through the BYUSA adopt-a-grandparent program.
There is an information meeting today at 6 p.m. in 3380 ELWC for those interested.