A man who started as a school volunteer turned out to be quite the treasured friend to students. In an amazing showing of love, those students honored him. They all said the same thing, they missed the hugs he would give them each and every morning.
Back in March 2020, Ron Jacobson or “Grandpa Ron” as the kids knew him, had already logged 900 volunteer hours! Those hours stopped being logged when the school located in Washington closed it’s doors to go virtual learning through Covid-19.
“These kids who relied on me being there for them had suddenly lost me. When they started doing their schoolwork online, several complained to the faculty that they missed ‘Grandpa Ron.’” Jacobson was quoted as saying.
The school received so many requests for Grandpa Ron that administrators added Jacobson’s contact information to the school’s online directory, allowing students to keep in touch with Jacobson. Students immediately began sending Jacobson emails and letters and even coming to his home to check up on him and offer to walk his dog.
Jacobson now responds to each of his many ‘pen-pals,’ adding a bright spot to the students’ days—and his own.
He went on to say “Of course, I am happy to listen to the kids’ problems as well,” Jacobson says. “I have heard from faculty members and parents how much this regular communication has changed the kids’ attitudes.”
Because of his service to the community, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has honored Grandpa Ron—a Vietnam veteran—by naming him a spokesman for their campaign, #StillServing, which highlights the many ways America’s veterans continue serving the community, even after leaving active military.
Grandpa Ron went on to say “The Marine Corps taught me, the two things that are most important are: complete the mission and take care of your troops. I’m still taking care of the troops.”
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