After retiring from a long career in insurance, Lana Koscove found herself restless. Her grandchildren were growing up, the days felt long, and she missed the energy of young minds. Then she spotted a small ad for VOA Colorado’s Foster Grandparents program, and everything changed. “I love kids,” she says. “I just wasn’t ready to stop being around them.”
Now 73, Lana volunteers three to four days a week, working one-on-one with first graders on math, reading, and even art. Her favorite part? That moment when a child who’s been struggling suddenly gets it. “It’s phenomenal,” she beams. “Being a part of making that happen is fantastic.” One of her proudest moments came when a student she tutored all year ended up reading 115 words per minute, proficiently and confidently.
She also remembers a boy who kept failing math worksheets; until she realized he wasn’t confused, just bored. With one-on-one attention, he came alive with excitement. “The children are so loving,” Lana says. “They crave the attention of a grandparent. And it gives me purpose every day. It’s not just keeping busy, it fills me.”
That’s the heart of VOA Colorado’s Foster Grandparents Program, a place where older adults rediscover purpose, and children experience the comfort of knowing someone truly believes in them.
For seniors, especially those living on fixed incomes or feeling disconnected in retirement, the program offers more than a way to pass time. It offers meaning, connection, and joy. Volunteers work with children from preschool to sixth grade, helping them read, solve math problems, paint, plant gardens, and, most importantly, feel seen and valued.
Serving schools and youth programs across seven Colorado counties, these foster grandparents commit 15 to 40 hours a week of their time, wisdom, and love.
One lesson, one laugh, one moment at a time, they are helping build brighter futures.
If you’re looking for connection, joy, and the kind of purpose that lights up your heart, the Foster Grandparents program might just be the perfect place to start.