Celebrating Our Ellis “Grandmothers”

Edie (left) and Cecilia (right)

Each week at Ellis’s South End locations, two remarkable women bring joy, care, and extra hands to our youngest learners. Cecilia and Edie have very different roles, but both share one thing: They are cherished volunteers whose warmth touches every child, family, and teacher at Ellis.

For 13 years, Cecilia has been a beloved “abuela” at Ellis, bringing love, care, and joy to every child she meets. Cecilia came to Ellis through the ABCD Foster Grandparents program. In her role as Ellis’s abuela, she joins the Pollywogs’ classroom to lend extra caring hands to the students, providing invaluable support for teachers. Her warmth and dedication touch every child and family.

“The teachers, the children, the families, they all make Ellis really feel like home,” Cecilia says.

Parents and caregivers notice the effect Cecilia has on their children. When she arrives in the morning, the students light up, and you will often hear them calling for their abuela when they need comfort. Graduating students ask for photos with her, and Cecilia's home is filled with snapshots of the children she’s nurtured. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, her role as abuela gets her out of bed with purpose: “I know I’m going to a job that really matters.”

Through her experience, kindness, and care, she embodies the heart of Ellis, loved by children, parents, and teachers alike.

Edie has been volunteering at the front desk at 66 Berkeley Street for nearly two years, after she responded to a call for volunteer support in a neighborhood newsletter. Every Tuesday, Edie is there assisting visitors and Ellis team members, giving a warm hello to every person who comes through the door. Inspired by her grandmother’s dedication to service, Edie has spent several decades volunteering in hospitals and hospices, learning about people, resilience, and the power of small acts of care. She also has a particular love for working with children.

“Every time I see the little ones, I get out of my chair to say hello,” she says.

In her time at Ellis,  Edie has built meaningful connections within the community. “You never know how others will respond when you start volunteering with a new organization,” she reflects. “Ellis has been such a wonderful experience because of how caring everyone is.”

For Edie, that care shines through in the way people do their work, engage with the children, and interact with everyone at Ellis. 

In just a short time, Edie’s presence on Tuesday mornings makes a huge impact and shows how small acts of care and attention leave lasting impressions on children, families, and the community.