'Grannies' serve love to students

OMAHA, Neb. (The Catholic Voice) - As each of the new members joined what is now known as the Granny Crew at St. Pius X/St. Leo School in Omaha, Shirlee Goaley, crew organizer, gave them all the same advice.

"I told them to strap on the orthopedic shoes and park the walkers at the door because we were going to work," she said with a laugh.

Group members were honored recently by the school's development office for their service with personalized aprons printed with "The Granny Crew" on them and special placemats made of letters from the students.

"When we first heard about the reception, we were a little hesitant to go because we don't do this for the recognition," said Goaley. "This is just our way of giving back to a school that has given so much to our families."

The nine-member Granny Crew was organized about five years ago as a way to bring back together a group of mothers turned grandmothers who were good friends when their own children went to the school.

In addition to Goaley, members include Mary Jo Ellis, Marlene Findley, Charleen Hausman, Carol Maginn, Arlene Mayberger, Marie McCarthy, Theresa McCaslin and Pat Zach.

The Granny Crew members have 154 grandchildren, 33 of whom are current St. Pius X/St. Leo students.

Lunch room supervision

As volunteers, crew members staff two lunch rooms once a month.

Duties include taking money, serving lunch, scraping and cleaning plates, washing tables, sweeping, visiting with students, and even taking a break to have lunch with their grandchildren.

"My four grandchildren each get so excited when they see me in the lunch room," Goaley said. "They ask me when I am coming next and look forward to it all week ... so do I."

"Being a part of the Granny Crew allows me to provide service to a school that is implementing Christian leadership by example," said Mary Jo Ellis. "And the Granny Crew allows me to have lunch with my grandkids every month."

The Granny Crew plans to continue their work and the school appreciates it.

"The sparkle and laughter that these women share as they give of their time shows our students that reaching out and helping others is a very positive, rewarding and enjoyable thing to do," said Principal Joyce Gubbels. "Volunteers are a gift from God."

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This story was made available to Catholic Online by permission of The Catholic Voice (www.catholicvoiceomaha.com), official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Omaha, Neb.