Henderson
has served on the faculty at LCCS from 1951 to 1976 and from 1986 to
the present. On May 4, 1995, he was recognized as Distinguished
Professor of New Testament, the only LCC professor to hold the title
of Distinguished Professor.
He
has a legacy as coach, mentor, friend and professor. He has
sustained an eager audience of large numbers of students over the
years. He has influenced thousands of students with his knowledge of
and love for God’s word. He is a teacher of students, loved by
students and appreciated by all.
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this article]
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Henderson
was one of the first Lincoln Bible Institute (later known as LCC)
basketball players. He later became known as "Coach," and
over the years he has served as athletic director, men’s
basketball coach, baseball coach and women’s basketball coach.
The
current gymnasium has been a versatile structure that has served a
variety of purposes. From 1952 to 1973 the gym was also the place
where the entire student body met for worship. It has been used as a
lecture hall for seminars and special events, a banquet room for
events such as homecoming, Ladies’ Day and student banquets, and
as a classroom, to name only a few.
[LCCS
news release]
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She’s
one of 70 foster grandmas who go to area schools to help other
people’s children, especially those who have special needs, such
as problems learning. She’s been in the program since 1989 and she
loves it.
"I
just enjoy being with the children. For a while I worked with the
Lincoln Developmental Center. I often took children for walks.
"Now
I work in the library of West Lincoln-Broadwell School. I read to
different classes and help them find books they will like. They
really enjoy being read to. It gets them into the habit of reading
by themselves."
Blanche
Hoelscher of Lincoln also goes to West Lincoln-Broadwell, but she
stays in a second-grade classroom.
"I
work with children that need extra help. I grade their spelling and
math, help them study, explain things. I do whatever needs to be
done. The children are so precious. The more I can do, the better I
like it."
Blanche
has been a foster grandma since 1994 and has no plans to quit.
"The
only way they are going to get rid of me is to fire me, or if I
die," she says. "I love the children, and I don’t know
what I’d do if I didn’t have this."
Glenva
Dellinger of Lincoln will be going back to Northwest School for the
fourth year. She, too, is in a classroom.
"I
love children, and I need to stay busy. I try to get there early and
have two pencils sharpened for every child. The teacher tells me
which ones need help, so those are the particular ones I work most
with.
"But
I also walk around and see who else needs help with something. A lot
of them couldn’t spell. Spelling and reading are usually bigger
problems than math. I take the children out in the hall, just
outside the door, and work with them individually. I grade papers,
too, but I don’t let that take me away from the kids.
"I
think there are some children who wouldn’t have passed last year
if I hadn’t helped them," she adds modestly.
The
Foster Grandparent Program started in the 1960s, part of former
President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty. The focus of the
program has changed since then, with less emphasis on giving help to
seniors and more toward the positive impact these foster
grandparents can make in the lives of children.
The
program started in Lincoln in 1967, when foster grandparents began
going to the Lincoln Developmental Center. Eight of them still
volunteer there. Then they began going to schools, Head Start
programs and day-care programs. The Foster Grandparents Program is
part of the service offered by the Central Illinois Economic
Development Corporation.
Paula
Poe has been director since 1987. She has foster grandparents at 26
sites in eight counties: Logan, Mason, Piatt, DeWitt, Fulton,
Menard, Macon and some of Sangamon. Grandmas are in all District 27
elementary schools, along with Chester-East Lincoln and West
Lincoln-Broadwell. They are also at Mount Pulaski and would be in
other Logan County schools if volunteers were available, Paula says.
She is always looking for more volunteers.
Foster
grandmas, and foster grandpas as well, must be age 60 or over and
meet an income guideline, which can be somewhat flexible. They get
40 hours of orientation, some of it on the job, and four hours a
month of in-service training. CIEDC can provide transportation to
the school sites, or the grandparents can drive their own cars,
Paula says.
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Although
technically they are volunteers, the foster grandmas and the several
foster grandpas in the program do get a stipend. Right now it’s
$198 a month, which can be used to cover any expenses related to
their volunteer work.
That
comes to something like $2.25 an hour for the four hours they spend
in the schools every morning, which is still a good deal more than
the $60 a month, or 75 cents an hour, foster grandparents got when
the program started.
But as
Blanche puts it, they don’t really do it for the money. "I’d
do it for nothing. There are things more important than money, like
the hugs of those kids."
The
Logan County program is one of 10 in Illinois, one of the oldest and
biggest. Funding comes from the National Corporation for Senior
Services and some from the Illinois Department on Aging. Also, the
program has to have 10 percent in local funding, which can be either
cash or in kind, such as providing meals for the grandparents.
Most
of those who become foster grandparents stay with it, and they are
the ones most likely to bring new people into the program.
"Out
of all the advertising I’ve done, foster grandparents telling
other people is the best advertising I’ve ever had," Paula
says.
One
grandma has been with the program for 25 years, and another, from
Atlanta, will hit the 25-year mark next year. Another was a grandma
until she was 94.
"The
only reason she’s no longer with us is because she died,"
Paula says.
At the
beginning of the school year, the foster grandparents ask the
teachers what they can do for the children. At the end of the school
year, Paula asks the teachers what the program actually did
accomplish.
"Most
of the time, the teachers say the children have improved," she
reports.
Since
its inception, Paula has had about 450 foster grandparents. Right
now she has three foster grandpas and would like to have more.
"Getting
grandpas is a problem," says Jane Poertner, executive director
of CIEDC. Men of that generation didn’t think taking care of
children was men’s work."
Jane
gives Paula high marks for her work in the program, and so do
others. "I’ve just had reviews from one of our funding
sources, and they gave Paula glowing compliments," she says.
Not
only is the program good for the children, it quickly becomes an
important part of the lives of the grandmas, too.
"My
husband died in 1986. I came to Lincoln to be near my son,
Jerry," Glenva Dellinger says.
"The
children you’ve worked with don’t forget you. When I walk down
the hall in the school, I hear, ‘Grandma! Grandma!’ Kids all
over town love me, run up and hug me, saying ‘Grandma! Grandma!’
Even the brothers and sisters of the children I’ve helped call me
‘Grandma!’ I’ll stay as long as they’ll keep me."
Blanche
lost her youngest daughter to cancer eight years ago. "Being a
foster grandma has helped me so much," she says.
"It
gives you something to get up in the morning for. It gives you a
focus. It’s something to live your life for, a wonderful thing to
do," Rita says.
While
in the schools or day-care centers, the foster grandmas wear red
T-shirts or smocks with the logo of the national organization on
them. But they are also recognized without their trademark red tops,
and often find themselves being hailed as "Grandma" in
local stores and other public places.
Rita
remembers just such an incident that happened not long ago in a
local store. She was with one of her own granddaughters, age 14.
"A
little one came up to me and said, ‘Grandma! Grandma!’ My
granddaughter didn’t like it much. She said, ‘She’s not your
grandma. She’s mine!’"
Those interested in
volunteering can call Paula Poe at 732-9391. Requirements are
simple, but the most important one is to love kids.
[Joan
Crabb]
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Breakfasts
(Milk served with all
meals)
Monday,
Sept. 17 —
Cereal, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, juice
Tuesday,
Sept. 18 —
Breakfast pizza, fruit
Wednesday,
Sept. 19 —
Cereal, toast with apple butter, juice
Thursday,
Sept. 20 — Cream
of wheat, toast, juice
Friday,
Sept. 21 —
Cereal, graham crackers, juice
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this section]
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Lunches
(Milk served with all
meals)
Monday,
Sept. 17 — Hot
ham and cheese on bun, peas, celery sticks, fruit cocktail
Tuesday,
Sept. 18 —
Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, bread and butter, corn
Wednesday,
Sept. 19 — Cheesy
pizza sandwich, green beans, pears, Trix yogurt
Thursday,
Sept. 20 — Sloppy
Joes, cole slaw, french fries, orange juice
Friday,
Sept. 21 —
Pancakes with syrup, sausage patty, hash brown, peaches
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