
GrandPals
GrandPal Renee Shields

Ella Leving • July 05, 2024
Renee Shields has been reading in Princeton schools as a GrandPal since 2015, except for the two years when the program was interrupted by COVID. After many years of practicing law and a few years of teaching elementary school, she returned to be a caregiver for her mother who lived to be over one hundred. “I have loved every minute, and reading to the students helped me through my period of caregiving,” she says.
“I was at one of the schools about to read and pulled my reading glasses out of my purse. I discovered there were no lenses in them. I remarked to the students, ‘Well those were my $2.00 reading glasses but I can still read.’ The next time I came to read my student asked me if I had my $2.00 reading glasses. She remembered what I had said. This reminded me that they remember every word I read or say. It ends up that the lenses had fallen out when I pulled my glasses from my purse. As we were leaving that day another GrandPal discovered them on the floor.”
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GrandPals
GrandPal Bob Swierczek
Bob Swierczek, a United States Navy veteran, resides in Princeton, where he selflessly dedicates his time to various volunteer roles. He serves as a crossing...
Ella Leving • Mar 25, 2025
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GrandPals
GrandPal Christine Piatek
Christine Piatek was a GrandPal at Littlebrook School before the pandemic and eagerly rejoined when the program returned in full swing. Before retiring, she worked...
Ella Leving • Mar 20, 2025
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Open Doors
Frances
Frances: A heart full of dance and joy in Princeton We’ve had the pleasure of seeing Frances at the Suzanne Patterson Building’s Nutrition Program, and...
Ana Carolina González-Peña • Mar 18, 2025
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Open Doors
Meet Intern Chris
Christopher Stanley – A Journey from Ministry to Social Work At CMAP, we are fortunate to have had Chris as an intern, bringing not only...
Ana Carolina González-Peña • Apr 29, 2025
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Open Doors
Meet Intern Sarah
Sarah Christensen, A Heart Full of Empathy and Service Q: Sarah, tell us a little bit about yourself and what led you to pursue a...
Ana Carolina González-Peña • Apr 21, 2025
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GrandPals
GrandPal Lois Gerstein
Meet Lois Gerstein, A former medical social worker with an MSW from NYU, she also ran a children’s bookstore, combining her passion for books and...
Ella Leving • Apr 08, 2025
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GrandPals
GrandPal Caroline Purnell
Caroline Purnell has been a GrandPal for the past two years. She is retired from teaching French, Spanish, and ESL for adults, and embodies a...
Ella Leving • Apr 03, 2025
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GrandPals
GrandPal Dave Olson
Meet Dave Olson, a recently retired Special Education teacher with a passion for supporting students of all abilities. Originally from the Philadelphia area, he began...
Ella Leving • Apr 01, 2025
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GrandPals
GrandPal Deb Pillow
Deb Pillow, originally from Michigan and with a background in teaching and storytelling, found her perfect fit in GrandPals after moving to Princeton from Arizona...
Ella Leving • Mar 27, 2025
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GrandPals
GrandPal Bob Swierczek
Bob Swierczek, a United States Navy veteran, resides in Princeton, where he selflessly dedicates his time to various volunteer roles. He serves as a crossing...
Ella Leving • Mar 25, 2025
-
GrandPals
GrandPal Christine Piatek
Christine Piatek was a GrandPal at Littlebrook School before the pandemic and eagerly rejoined when the program returned in full swing. Before retiring, she worked...
Ella Leving • Mar 20, 2025
-
Open Doors
Frances
Frances: A heart full of dance and joy in Princeton We’ve had the pleasure of seeing Frances at the Suzanne Patterson Building’s Nutrition Program, and...
Ana Carolina González-Peña • Mar 18, 2025
-
Open Doors
Meet Intern Chris
Christopher Stanley – A Journey from Ministry to Social Work At CMAP, we are fortunate to have had Chris as an intern, bringing not only...
Ana Carolina González-Peña • Apr 29, 2025
-
Open Doors
Meet Intern Sarah
Sarah Christensen, A Heart Full of Empathy and Service Q: Sarah, tell us a little bit about yourself and what led you to pursue a...
Ana Carolina González-Peña • Apr 21, 2025
-
GrandPals
GrandPal Lois Gerstein
Meet Lois Gerstein, A former medical social worker with an MSW from NYU, she also ran a children’s bookstore, combining her passion for books and...
Ella Leving • Apr 08, 2025
-
GrandPals
GrandPal Caroline Purnell
Caroline Purnell has been a GrandPal for the past two years. She is retired from teaching French, Spanish, and ESL for adults, and embodies a...
Ella Leving • Apr 03, 2025
-
GrandPals
GrandPal Dave Olson
Meet Dave Olson, a recently retired Special Education teacher with a passion for supporting students of all abilities. Originally from the Philadelphia area, he began...
Ella Leving • Apr 01, 2025
-
GrandPals
GrandPal Deb Pillow
Deb Pillow, originally from Michigan and with a background in teaching and storytelling, found her perfect fit in GrandPals after moving to Princeton from Arizona...
Ella Leving • Mar 27, 2025
-
GrandPals
GrandPal Bob Swierczek
Bob Swierczek, a United States Navy veteran, resides in Princeton, where he selflessly dedicates his time to various volunteer roles. He serves as a crossing...
Ella Leving • Mar 25, 2025
-
GrandPals
GrandPal Christine Piatek
Christine Piatek was a GrandPal at Littlebrook School before the pandemic and eagerly rejoined when the program returned in full swing. Before retiring, she worked...
Ella Leving • Mar 20, 2025
-
Open Doors
Frances
Frances: A heart full of dance and joy in Princeton We’ve had the pleasure of seeing Frances at the Suzanne Patterson Building’s Nutrition Program, and...
Ana Carolina González-Peña • Mar 18, 2025