JAMESTOWN, N.Y. -- Foster grandparents like Margaret Etters have, for 35 years now in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties, helped shepherd students in need of a little extra academic help.

The longtime federal program was created in 1965 as part of the Older Americans Act. It's open to those 55 and older looking to work about 15 hours a week.

Those in the program are assigned three students. There are about 50 foster grandparents enrolled in the program, including Margaret, who is a foster grandparent at Ring Elementary in Jamestown.

"Makes you feel so good inside to do something. You know to interact, to help. You know, reading, math, writing. Whatever that child need is, so, and it's fun," said Etters.

Participants must also undergo pre-service and monthly training to bridge the generation gap between the old school way of approaching children and their behavior to a more modern approach.