Adopt-a-Grandparent: A Mutually Beneficial Relationship

“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?” –Satchel Paige

I never expected that some of my best friends in college would be over four times older than me. My participation in the Adopt-a-Grandparent program has been full of surprises, and I can honestly say that I’ve learned an unbelievable amount from the three ladies that I visit every week. Each week, I gain insight into what life was like when in the Ripon area decades ago. What I find surprising is that the local history shared by these ladies reveals both unimaginable differences and unexpected similarities to what life is like now in our community – and even on campus! For example, I have learned alternative means of overcoming deep snow while commuting to school, such as ice-skating along the ditch or riding a thrasher through the fields, but I have also learned of the constancy of the unique relationships between Ripon College students and members of the community.

More than anything else, however, I have learned the mutuality of a program such as Adopt-a-Grandparent. When the program is described, it seems that the mission of volunteers is to offer a service to older adults by providing them with company and social stimulation on a weekly basis. In actuality, however, the program benefits both older adults and volunteers. My experiences with the program have provided me with a sense of friendship, purpose, and solidarity. To be perfectly honest, I look forward to our weekly meetings just as much as my residents do. My participation in the program has brought me the opportunity to share stories, joy, and experiences with three lovely women in particular, as well as with the greater population of residents of Prairie Place. Through weekly conversations and large events, such as the Christmas party and Sweetheart Dance, I have earned a greater respect for older Americans, as well as a deeper understanding of the similarities that we all share as a part of the human experience.

                                                                                      --Andrea Slosser, Elder Empowerment Intern
                                                                                        Ripon College Office of Community Engagement


Want to Know More? RC Students Share Their Experiences: 

RC volunteer Rachell Pachniak delivers
halloween treats to the residents at Prairie Place

Rachell Pachniak
I started volunteering at Prairie Place to get philanthropy hours for my sorority; however, speaking with the residents has turned into a highlight of my week. I have learned so much about the history of Ripon from my residents, and I have begun to truly care about them. I make a point of visiting one of my residents especially every week. She looks so pleased to see me and have company. We play double solitaire or find a few words in a word search. She lets me know about her family, and as I am about to leave she makes sure I take some of the caramel popcorn or pretzels that she enjoys making. I even got a call from her son, a coach at the local high school, thanking me for spending time with his mother and claims she is always talking about "that college girl" who visits her. I can't wait to continue my time volunteering at Prairie Place next semester.

Sherri Krier
I just started as an Adopt-a-Grandparent intern at Prairie Place a couple of weeks ago. When I first saw the inside of the building, it was very comfortable and welcoming. Every Wednesday afternoon, our group of Ripon college volunteers go together to Prairie Place assisted living to visit our assigned residents. The volunteers talk to their resident and have a nice visit with them before we leave. This brings happiness to everyone involved and brightens everyone’s day. I do not yet have assigned residents, but I look forward to next week having my own group of people to visit and to look forward to seeing every week. So far I have been going to visit the residents with our coordinator, Andrea Slosser. It seems like a wonderful volunteer opportunity for anyone who loves to be around other people and has extra time on their hands to give back to their community. 

Rachel Groff visits with a friend at Prairie Place

Rachel Groff
Visiting Prairie Place has been a wonderful experience. We are able to visit with residents from different areas of Wisconsin and even some residents that have worked for our college. They have wonderful stories to share (such as knowing Harrison Ford when he went to Ripon College) and are fun to visit with.

Rachel Wedeward
I started volunteering at Prairie Place regularly this semester. I come almost every Wednesday, to meet with my residents. However, the moment that I would like to reflect on was my first time ever coming to Prairie Place. The first time I came to Prairie Place was for their Sweetheart’s Dance, celebrating Valentine’s Day. It was one of the cutest events, I think Prairie Place could have put on. They had an old big band and swing band there, and they invited families of residents to come. I thought it was really sweet that a lot of residents wanted to dance with me, even if they were wheel chair bound. A majority of the residents and parents thanked me for the taking the time to come to their dance. I thought everyone was so heart-warming, I thought the staff was excellent in planning the event, as well as their passion for the residents. Seeing everyone, from the families to the staff, made me want to continue volunteering at Prairie Place.

Eric Seiler 

When I first decided to volunteer with the adopt-a-grandparent program I did not know what to expect. I'm not the most talkative person so I feared that a lack of conversation was imminent. After my first visit I learned that I really didn't have anything to worry about. All of my residents were, and still are, incredibly social and never seem to run out of things to say! It always makes me smile when they tell me how much they appreciate "those college kids" that come in to visit them. You can tell how much they enjoy our company and that our visits are a highlight of their week. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of the adopt-a-grandparent program is having the residents tell you about their lives. It truly is an eye-opening experience hearing about what they had to overcome in and what they still hope to do in their lives. I never anticipated how much fun this program could be, and I am incredibly grateful that I took advantage of this opportunity to meet some of the most interesting and caring people I now know.

Want to Participate? 
If you're interesting in taking part in the Adopt-a-Grandparent program or finding out more about how you can get involved in your community, contact Andrea Slosser at slossera@ripon.edu or the Office of Community Engagement at oce@ripon.edu.

Holocaust Survivor and Author to Visit Ripon College

Photo: Wisconsin Historical Society

RIPON, Wis. – Henry Golde, a Holocaust survivor, will share his remarkable life story at a special Golden Hour presentation by the Office of Community Engagement, 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 17 in Todd Wehr 104 on the Ripon College campus. The public is welcome to attend.

Born in Plock, Poland in 1929, Mr. Golde was forced to live in two different ghettos with his parents before being separated from them in 1943. He was forced to work at a slave labor camp at Czestochowa, Poland before being transferred to Bruchenwald, and then Colditz, Germany, ending up in Theresienstadt, Czechoslovakia where he was liberated by the Russian Army in 1945. His parents were not so lucky. 

After being liberated, he spent seven years in England before moving to the United States. Today he lives in Appleton, Wis. and for the last several years has been dedicated to sharing his story with the communities around him, including talks at area schools.

Photo: Wisconsin Historical Society

Social justice can be understood through education and activism; Mr. Golde's story acts as a catalyst to begin the journey towards achieving justice in our society and world by sharing his firsthand knowledge and personal reflections of the Holocaust.

Through speakers like Mr. Golde, the Office of Community Engagement seeks to bridge the gap between those who have experienced a social injustice and those who are in a position to be activists alongside them: Solidarity of the human race starts with knowledge and education. The ensuing compassion we have and share with one another after becoming aware of an injustice spurs activism to work towards community solidarity around an issue. As we share our stories and viewpoints with one another, our understanding of each other increases and helps us bridge our differences and find a common connection.

Mr. Golde’s self-published book, Ragdolls, will be available for sale from the author directly after his speech.
For more information about Mr. Golde’s upcoming speech at Ripon College, please contact the Office of Community Engagement at 920-748-8153 or OCE@ripon.edu.

For a more complete biography of Mr. Golde, or to hear a recorded version of his oral history, check out the Wisconsin Historical Society's website. 

For more information about his book, Ragdolls, click HERE. 

Not able to attend the presentation on Tuesday but would still like to purchase a copy of the book? Not a problem! Books can be purchased online from Biblio.com for $17.00 including shipping. 

Wacuco Panama, 2012

Building. Be it interpersonal bridges or a physical dam, Ripon College students were not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty during a trip to Wacuco Panama this January. The trip, led by Professor Brian Smith, was meant to offer students a chance to experience a different reality, learn new skills, and work alongside the local community to build a much needed dam. Their host was Fr. Wally Kasuboski, a Ripon native and recipient of an honorary degree from Ripon College in 2010. Since 1988 Fr. Wally has been working with the Chocoe Embera Indians to bring fresh, clean water to everyone living in the area. Fr. Wally has worked diligently with the local people to ethically develop jobs, make trade education available, and obtain the physical, financial and political support needed to build churches, roads, water systems, etc to meet the needs of the community. The latest phase of this project encompasses the building of a dam, which our Ripon College student volunteers got to experience up close and personal during their time in Panama. Upon returning to Ripon, the student volunteers were asked to reflect on their experiences.

Below is a sampling of what they had to say:

1.      Describe the most important experience(s) you personally had in Panama. 

The dam under construction, as it appeared
 to Ripon College volunteers in January 2012

"The most important experience that I had in Panama was just being there. Helping other people, meeting new people, being around other people who also wanted to help that was life changing. You don’t realized how lucky you are to be a part of a group like that until you meet everyone in the group and realize why everyone is really there." --Alyssa Wetzel, '14

2. Explain any new personal awareness about yourself (e.g., deeper level of understanding of yourself, talents, and desires; clarification of personal goals for your life; spiritual insights, etc.) that resulted from your time in Panama.

"Throughout the whole trip I received positive feedback from many of the community members about my work ethic and my care for others. This opened my eyes to the potential we all have as human beings and the potential I have to be an even better person."--Laura Savall, '15

"I learned so much about myself on this trip. I realized I can handle a lot more than I thought I ever could. I can handle spiders and snakes, bumpy rides, large rocks, and dust in the eyes. I can handle cold showers, no TV or internet, no glamour, and no cell phone. I realized that I can do this, and because I can, I should. I’ve begun to seriously consider the Peace Corps after graduating because I know I can handle it. God has given me the strength and ability to help people, and I believe it is my responsibility to do so." --Emma Jelinek, '14

3. Did you come to any new understanding of poverty and its causes in a developing country and what can be done to alleviate it? Explain.

Professor Brian Smith (Religion), Laura Savall ('15), Samantha Petroski ('15),  Alyssa Wetzel 
('14), Molly Gruetner,('13), Emma Jelinek ('14), Fr. Wally Kasuboski, Brad Habert ('12)

"Yes, I pictured poverty as more of a money issue then a resource issue. After my trip to Panama I understand that simply sending food and water isn’t enough to solve the problem. Although many of the people in Panama have enough money to buy the supplies they need to live healthy lives there is nowhere to purchase them, so instead they are stuck paying money for substandard drinking water. With the work Fr. Wally is doing on the dam people will be able to use their money to buy clean drinking water, instead of paying for the dirty contaminated water. There are also people who have no money, the dam construction is providing jobs to many of these people and even paying them above the minimum wage of the country. Fr. Wally is also taking charge on many more contracts given to him by the government such as building roads and bridges which will provide even more jobs to the locals who need the money. The way to alleviate poverty in Panama is not to simply send money to the locals but instead give them a way to support themselves by increasing the infrastructure in the country and making it possible for more people to hold jobs." --Brad Habert, '12

"Even though I knew there was poverty in the world, experiencing it the way that we did in Panama allowed me to understand more. I saw that even though the country was developing, there were parts that were left behind, almost forgot about. With tall skyscrapers in Panama City to huts and dirt floors in Torti I was overwhelmed with feeling of sadness and anger that there could be such a wide range of living conditions." --Molly Gruettner, '13


4. Described your plan(s), if any, to become more involved in community service as a result of your trip experience (e.g., participate more in volunteer work; start a new project; share information about your overseas work with others; prepare yourself academically and professionally for future humanitarian work internationally or domestically, etc.

"The trip showed me the importance of water and how serious of an issue it will become in the near future. As a result of the trip I have been researching opportunities that would be available to me after my graduation at the end of the current semester. Without my trip to Panama there is no way I would have discovered my interest in the Peace Corps and would likely have decided to go straight into the job market." --Brad Habert, '12

"I decided that when I was older I wanted to be like the older people who were there. I thought about it and every year when I’m older instead of going on vacation I would like to do a service project in a foreign country." --Samantha Petroski, '15

Ripon Community and College members joined forces for their visit to Panama.  

5. If you were explaining to another student who is interested in going to Panama about this trip, what would you say to them?
"I would tell them that it truly is hard to describe fully because it is such a personal experience. Every individual gets something different out of it. It is a lot of hard work, sweat, and dirt, but it is also a lot of fun, good times with friends, and a sense of accomplishment. I would tell them not to be worried about diseases or safety because I felt entirely safe. The experience is worth every penny I spent and so much more!" --Emma Jelinek, '14

"The trip reminded me a lot of a camping trip. The conditions of the compound were great and to say we were roughing it would be a drastic overstatement. The bugs and heat/humidity were not nearly as bad as I expected them to be. There was always work to be done, whether it was at the dam site, or building pews for the local church. I didn’t find myself standing around looking for something to do very often after the first day when things go situated. I ate better on the trip then I did at school and every night was a great home cooked meal. The days consisted of hard work while the nights consisted of playing cards...and socializing with friends. Out of all the trips I have been on I felt most welcomed into the group on this trip; everyone was quick to get to know you and was very inviting." --Brad Habert, '12

Donate Blood. Save Lives: A Personal Appeal From A Ripon College Student

"Being diagnosed with a bleeding disorder has some challenges. However, one of my biggest concerns happens to be the blood product supply. I have had so many transfusions that have ultimately saved my life. For example, when I was three years old, I almost died from a nosebleed that lasted thirty days—this required transfusions. Last summer I had a surgery that required roughly twenty five transfusions. With this surgery, one of the hardest things that I had to do was sit my parents down and tell them that, while this surgery is necessary and there are no other options, there’s a high chance of me dying on the operating table. Without people willing to donate their blood products (ie, red blood cells, plasma, and platelets) I would more than likely not have survived past my third birthday or past the surgery. But I am here today...because of people donating.

On average, I am hospitalized once a year, mainly due to internal bleeding issues, and the only way I get better is by receiving transfusions. But I am not the only one who receives transfusions—there are a lot of people who receive them. Donating blood is essential—think of it as one’s civic duty. If you’re afraid of needles, which I can understand, have someone go with you to hold your hand. If you’re afraid you’re going to pass out, you’ll be in a comfy chair anyways—might as well take a nap! Only 38% of the world’s population can donate now, and the American Red Cross centers are seeing an overall decline on the number of donors. If this trend continues, the shortage will continue and hospitals will have to start denying patients the appropriate blood product transfusions for treatments. Imagine what would have happened to me if I was only allowed to have three transfusions for my surgery the past summer—I wouldn’t have survived it. This is an extremely scary thought for people like me who have bleeding disorders—instead of being able to live our lives like “normal,” we would have to be extra careful with daily activities.

Now, I’m not saying have pity—but have courage to donate. You might save a life—potentially three—with your donation. And if you know me, and you’ve donated in the past, who knows, I might have received some of your blood. Put yourself in a “bleeder’s” shoes—if the best treatment for you was to receive donated blood products—would you want people to donate? As I said before, if you’re afraid, bring someone with and squeeze their hand. The whole donating blood process only takes about an hour. This one hour that you’d make time for, could mean a lifetime for a person in the future. While you’re donating—think about me or think about someone who has received a transfusion and how you could be saving a life. Whatever you do, please donate; there’s nothing better than saving lives."

--Tonya Reetz, Class of 2012

Hunger is a Real Story.

Matt Damon

Taye Diggs

Ana Ortiz