Manassas Journal Messenger | City Focus
If you’ve seen your grandchildren or spoken to them by telephone this month, you have something in common with 80 percent of the nation’s grandparents, according to the American Association of Retired Persons.
Still, 14 million members of the mature community don’t fall into that category.
Grandparents Day 2005, which falls on Sunday, Sept. 11, can help family members continue strong family ties year-round or establish new traditions with multigenerational appeal.
It’s OK to borrow someone else’s grandparents to start these traditions if you’re lacking. And there are plenty of local opportunities to help facilitate that.
The SEASONS Intergenerational Mentoring Project pairs teens 13 to 18 with mentors over 50, most of whom are senior citizens.
The Prince William County Office on Youth oversees the program at the Manassas Senior Center.
SEASONS’ lively activities include dance lessons, cookouts, field trips to museums and parks and movie nights.
For more information, call (703) 792-6095.
The Prince William County Area Agency on Aging needs volunteers for several programs serving seniors and their families in the county, Manassas and Manassas Park.
Friendly visitor volunteers are needed to visit homebound seniors.
Volunteer meal delivery drivers are also needed.
Volunteers are also needed for senior day-programs that are based at 7757 Ashton Ave. in Manassas. Group-based activities, therapeutic programs and health monitoring services are offered to older adults who can no longer remain home alone during the day.
For more information, call (703) 792-4156.
The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program assigns volunteer ombudsmen to local nursing homes or assisted living facilities, where they work with residents, their families and the facility’s staff to help protect residents’ rights.
For more information, call (703) 324-5435.
If you have information about volunteering with seniors or other city events and services, please contact staff writer Tory N. Parrish at (703) 368-6570.