For grandparents raising children, there’s help out there, thanks to Karen Barnes.

The 60-year-old grandmother founded Grands Stepping Up, a Delaware County non-profit that provides a support system for grandparents raising children when biological parents can’t.

An opioid and mental health crisis, gun violence, incarceration, death, and illness have left grandparents and extended family members raising young children, reports WHYY.

 “It’s very traumatic on the children and on the grandparents — sometimes they’ve lost their child, and they are grieving but don’t have time to grieve because they need to take care of their grandchild,” Barnes said.

Grands Stepping Up provides free or discounted legal support to help with guardianship or custody. The group also provides food, clothing, toiletries, furniture, therapy, and overall support.

Often, grandparents are on fixed incomes or live in senior housing, so bringing in young children can be life-altering.

Barnes had to step up herself after her daughter was battling addiction and had a child at 17. At the time, Barnes was a divorced mom with a medical condition that kept her from working.

Working with other local grandparents, she found resources for herself and others. She decided to make it her life work to support grandfamilies.

Find out more about Karen Barnes and Grands Stepping Up at WHYY.