BBBSNEW Blog

The ADRC of Brown County began a coalition in 2019, with the purpose of bringing local non-profits to the same table and finding unique ways to support area grandparents who are tasked with raising their grandchildren. The group, called Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, consists of The ADRC of Brown County, WI Adoption and Permanency Support, Brown County Library, Brown County Foster Care, YMCA, YWCA, Green Bay Are Public Schools, Family and Child Resource Center, Oneida Elder Care Services and BCHSD, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. The purpose of the collaboration is to find effective ways of getting resources into the hands of these grandparents, all while keeping each non-profit aware of what services are available in the community.

September of 2019, marked the first ever Grandparents Day celebration. Families were able to enjoy an afternoon of cookie decorating and resource collection with an emphasis on best practices for supporting grandparents. With the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing, the event was cancelled in 2020, but resumed again this past weekend.

Grandparents, families, and non-profits came together again on September 18, 2021, for another day of collaboration. This year, the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren collective was able to give each grandparent a cloth grocery bag with resource papers and assorted household items. Each child received a drawstring backpack with a book, snacks, library card application, a beach ball, Get Air passes, and other fun activities that they could do with their grandparents. Through donations from Kwik Trip, the Depot Gastropub, and WI Adoption and Permanency, the event was rounded out with 3 gift basket raffle items.

If you, or someone you know, are a grandparent raising your grandchildren, Big Brothers Big Sisters would like to get you connected with resources in our local community. Please contact your local BBBSNEW agency at (920) 498-2227.