This has been a difficult winter, especially for seniors in the community who are living alone. Members of the community are encouraged to reach out to the elderly neighbors they know and to meet new neighbors by volunteering. The Catholic Charities SEARCH Program of Greater Bath and Lincoln County is looking for volunteers to assist seniors in Wiscasset, Damariscotta, Nobleboro, Pemaquid peninsula towns (Bristol, South Bristol, Bremen), and the Boothbay region.
SEARCH stands for Seek Elderly Alone, Renew Courage and Hope. SEARCH matches screened and trained volunteers with isolated seniors who need long-term companionship as well as help with grocery shopping and errands. Community volunteers come from all faiths, age groups, and walks of life. The mission of SEARCH is to enable vulnerable seniors to remain independent and create a long-term support system to meet their needs.
Volunteers generally spend two to five hours a week with seniors, making their own schedule as their time permits. Seniors are especially grateful for the help they receive and many volunteer-senior matches have been going strong for as long as 10 years.
For further information about the program and/or to apply to volunteer, contact Chris Szalay at 837-8810 or cszalay@ccmaine.org.
