society has let them down. We need to help them make a good and useful life.”
Steward is not just helping teen-
agers. An elderly woman came to him when the city threatened to fine or imprison her if she didn’t mow the high, weedy grass and trim the bushes in her yard by the week’s end. She didn’t have any family to do it and lacked money to pay someone. Steward knew the city wouldn’t actu- ally imprison her, but her lawn care problems had to be dealt with soon. Through his window he could see
three teenagers who were haggling and gesturing in what looked like a drug deal across the street. From experience he knew the teens prob-
ably had no father around and had a mother who was rarely home, work- ing several jobs to keep food on the table. That day the ASAP (Adopt-a- Senior Assistance Program) began to take shape in Steward’s mind. Over the next few months he found funding and set up ways to link senior citizens with at-risk or disad- vantaged youth, plus a mentor/super- visor, for a mutually beneficial com- munity service experience. Today the youth offer seniors supervised help with gardening, snow removal, yard cleanup and other outdoor maintenance.
“Along the way they learn to fol- low instructions, take responsibility, and set and accomplish goals, while
developing interpersonal skills,” Steward said. “And hopefully the senior becomes a ‘grandparent’ to them. I’ve seen that happen in a good number of cases.”
The youth keep journals to record challenges and progress toward the goal of graduating from high school. Now, 10 years later, hundreds of teens have gone through the ASAP program. They’ve found encourage- ment to stay in school and avoid illegal and self-destructive behaviors. And many have found a grandpa or grandma to care about them and encourage them. Steward, ordained many years ago in the Baptist church, sees all of it as his ministry.
November 2011 35
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