The Boothbay Region Community Resource Council (BRCRC) has developed a new partnership with the Catholic Charities SEARCH Program.  SEARCH stands for “Seek Elderly Alone, Renew Courage and Hope.”  As a result of this partnership, senior citizens in the Boothbay region  may qualify for free volunteer assistance to “age in place.”  Seniors will be referred to SEARCH initially through the BRCRC Community Navigators, who assist many Boothbay area seniors with their needs and coordinate help from many different services. 

SEARCH trains and matches screened volunteers in their community with isolated seniors who need long-term companionship as well as help with grocery shopping, errands, or assistance with mail correspondence. 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.  

This volunteer caregiver program originated in Bath-Brunswick 12 years ago as part of a United Way task force focused on aging seniors. iIn 2015,  it expanded into Lincoln County. At that time, in the absence of other resources, BRCRC volunteers provided a similar service to local seniors here in Boothbay. People Helping People, also offers companionship and support services, as part of a membership.   

Now,  with funding from United Way, the Bessie D. Brooks Trust and Elizabeth Ann Leach Foundation, SEARCH will expand to the Boothbay peninsula to serve BRCRC’s catchment area - the towns of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb and Southport Island. BRCRC encourages interested churches and members of local civic organizations to participate as volunteers, in order to make this project successful. This will also enable residents to receive assistance from volunteers in their own backyard. Volunteers generally schedule from two to five hours a week to spend with a senior, as their time permits.  Many volunteer-senior matches have been going strong for many years!  

BRCRC is a non-profit organization serving the towns of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb and Southport Island. Its mission is to assist persons in need on the Boothbay peninsula by providing information, referrals, resources and programs. BRCRC started with  a neighbor-helping-neighbor approach that has turned into 8 direct service programs and established the Community Navigator resource to serve as a confidential first stop and single point of contact for those seeking services. Community Navigators work with individuals and families and other service providers to help people to navigate and access available resources as they make changes needed to improve their health, well being and quality of life. BRCRC supports additional programs that address addiction, childhood hunger and community food security, heat and clothing assistance, and academic achievement/access to higher education.

For further information about Catholic Charities or the SEARCH program, or to apply to volunteer, contact Chris Szalay at 207-837-8810 or cszalay@ccmaine.org. 

To contact the Community Navigator at BRCRC, call 633-6272 or e-mail info@boothbayresources.com.