Grandma Hazel Hazel Fundine, known as "Grandma Hazel" to students at Pillager Elementary School, has been a volunteer with the Lutheran Social Services "Foster Grandparents Program" for the past 15 years. She spends four days a week, Staples World photo by Dawn Schimpp Timbs five hours a day assisting students in Mrs. Jasman's 2nd grade and Mrs. Cusino's 1st grade classrooms. Pictured above with Grandma Hazel is 2nd grader Tyler Drake. Although she graduated from Pillager High School in 1943, 83-year-old Hazel Fundine still shows up for class at her alma mater four days a week.

"I love it," the Pillager native smiled, sitting along side two second graders at Pillager Elementary whom she helps tutor in reading

and math.

She's known as "Grandma Hazel," said

second grade teacher Mrs. Jasman. "All of the kids adore her and she is a lifesaver to me in the classroom," she added. "I don't know what we'd do without her."

Although she has two grown children and four grandkids of her own, becoming a volunteer Foster Grandma was one of the best things she could ever have done, Hazel said.

"It's given me a reason to get out of bed every morning," she said.

When her husband of 43 years passed away in July of 1994, Hazel said she knew she needed to do something to occupy her time.

"I was really feeling down, as you can imagine," she said. When a friend invited her to attend a Foster Grandparents meeting in Motley, Hazel decided to go.

She had been retired for a number of years, Hazel said, but after hearing about this volunteer opportunity, she decided it was time to get back to work.

"I started (at Pillager School) that September and I've been working here ever since," Hazel said with a grin.

Hazel is at the school for five hours a day, every Monday - Thursday. "I work with second graders in Mrs. Jasman's class and first graders in Mrs. Cusino's class," she said. "These kids are a lot of fun. I especially like helping them with math," she added.

Grandma Hazel said that she's found volunteering with students to be very rewarding.

"It makes me feel good when I'm able to help a child understand something better," she said. "I like to feel that I make the teacher's job easier, too."

Hazel said she has become a strong supporter of the Foster Grandparent program; and believes whole-heartedly that volunteering in general does a person good.

"I love working with these kids; and I think they've helped me probably as much as I've helped them," she said.

Grandma Hazel said she hopes others might consider volunteering.

"There is always a need for more foster grandparents at our school," she said recently to a group that

had gathered for lunch at

the Pillager Senior Center. "I know you would find it to

be as rewarding as I have."

National Volunteer Week (April 19 - 25) is a time that's been set aside to honor those who selflessly give of their time and talents to a number of organizations; including churches, civic groups, medical centers and foster grandparent programs.

Today we say "thank you" to Grandma Hazel, a woman who has volunteered countless hours to help make this world a better place.