Grandma Dorothy Cable has been a server, a giver, a caring person all of her 89 years of life. She has impacted over 200 disadvantaged youth on a one to one basis as a Foster Grandparent in the Panhandle Foster Grandparent Program sponsored by Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska since 1983.  She currently volunteers at Geil Elementary School in Gering Nebraska five days a week working for at least 25 hours.  In the summer she switches gears and volunteers tutoring physically and mentally challenged youth at Camp Scott for six weeks. She has been a mentor, tutor, and role model to countless number of children in the classrooms that are touched by her enthusiasm and zeal for education. 
 Children come to her in the morning with hugs and high fives to greet her as she walks down the hallways.  Dorothy said one of her favorite memories was when one of “her students” showed up years later at school as a student teacher. She has worked with several elementary students that are now parents of the second generation of students coming through the same doors they came through and saw “Grandma Dorothy” there.  Most remember “their grandma” with admiration. 
  With the help of Grandma Dorothy and the staff in the school system children get a good start in sound academics, good behaviors, honest values, and achieved goals during their educational years.  The Gering School system has an excellent graduation rate of 89% with a drop out rate of only 1%. 
   Dorothy started volunteering when she joined the Navy WAVS for two years during World War II.  She raised her family and worked for Montgomery Ward, then retired and volunteered for Green Thumb two years before joining the Foster Grandparent Program. Dorothy was a member of the Advisory Council in the 1980’s and held a leadership role in the program.  Her longevity has lasted through four directors of the program and four elementary principals and she is ready to start her 30th year as a Foster Grandparent. She says she will stay until “They Boot Me Out”
   While being a Foster Grandparent she continues to volunteer at her local church and has been an active secretary for 33 years helping with as many activities as she can. Dorothy has given over 10 gallons of blood to the local blood bank since the 1960’s.
  Impacting education is something that is second nature to Grandma Dorothy.  She helps children improve academically, as well as socially and mentally.  She is dedicated to the children she serves and truly cares for them.  The school district saved approximately 8,000 to 10,000 dollars a year by using Grandma instead of hiring more staff. Take these Dollar amounts times 29 years of dedication and you see that she is a very valuable asset to the community. This does not even take into account the intrinsic value that she has given to hundreds of children she has served.  The Panhandle Foster Grandparent Program truly appreciates her dedication to America's children.