Volunteer finds family in SEARCH

LEWISTON — Danielle Boisvert’s parents and siblings live in Canada, but she has another family of sorts in Central Maine — a network of local seniors she visits weekly.

Sometimes they need a lift to the store or to the doctor’s office. Sometimes they need a ride around town to finish their errands.

But most often, the seniors like a companion or a friend to share jokes with — or to listen to them as they tell stories.

“A long time ago, I was taking a client around and we met some of her friends,” Boisvert said. “They asked who I was, and she said, ‘That’s my adopted daughter.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, that’s my American mother.’ That’s how I address her now.”

Boisvert is a 10-year volunteer for SEARCH, a program offered through Catholic Charities Maine to provide home visits to seniors in the Androscoggin, Kennebec, Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties.

The group’s title is an acronym: Seek Elderly Alone, Renew Courage and Hope.

“The important thing we provide is friendly visitation and companionship,” Director Wendy Russell said. “We provide socialization activities to get our clients out and about in their communities, as well as transportation for errands and shopping.”

The group has between 50 and 75 volunteers throughout the year, peaking in the fall and spring. Volunteers range from 20-year-olds to retirees. Russell said the older volunteers tend to be the favorites.

“Seniors prefer to have someone closer to their own age, maybe someone with a bit of an understanding of what it means to be a senior,” she said.

Boisvert worked as the vice president and treasurer for a manufacturing company for years, retiring in 2005.

“I worked a lot of hours, so after I retired, I got to do a lot of stuff I never did before,” Boisvert said. “I did kayaking and gardening, but then I started wanting to do something useful. So that’s how I got started.”

She liked the SEARCH mission, and soon had two clients — until one died.

“She was really funny,” she said. “She was the one that made me laugh the most because when she talked, nothing was off-limits. You could talk about anything — and she would, too.”

She took a break after that while she mourned her friend.

“And about four months later, they called me,” she said.

She now has four clients to visit, including an elderly couple in Poland.

“The couple, it’s about two to three times each month,” she said. “The others, each at least once per week or more, depending on what’s going on. If they have a medical appointment, it’s more often.”

What she gets is friendship and a lot of gratitude. An 83-year-old client has told Boisvert repeatedly that her visit is a gift every time she is there.

“It feels good to be helping people,” Boisvert said. “They are all so thankful to have the help, that you feel like you are really doing something positive. You do make a difference in their lives.”

Know someone with a deep well of unlimited public spirit? Someone who gives of their time to make their community a better place? Then nominate them for Kudos. Send their name and the place where they do their good deeds to reporter Scott Taylor at staylor@sunjournal.com and we’ll do the rest.