Volunteers from two programs sponsored by the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development were recognized at an awards ceremony on Friday.

Both volunteers from the foster grandparent program and the senior companion program were at the Lawrence County Early Childhood Center for the annual recognition ceremony. The volunteers were honored with awards and gifts for their services as well as a free lunch.

“It’s just something we feel we need to do,” Linda Black, FGP/SCP coordinator, said. “To recognize all these volunteers and thank them for everything they do is just really important.”

The foster grandparent and the senior companion programs are federally funded programs sponsored through the COAD.

“Both of these programs provide a huge service to the community,” Gary Goosman, senior division director for the COAD, said. “Through foster grandparents we can provide teachers with the help they need in the classroom and the senior program provides some day-to-day assistance to seniors in our area to help them to continue to live on their own.”

The senior program was piloted in 1974 and celebrated its 40th anniversary this year.