Maxine Carey - Legacy Corps

This winter, Yvonne Koketso Ferreira had major surgery. For the first time in her life, she needs help with housework, errands, and exercise. Maxine Carey provides all that and more. "Just being there for her, if she wants to scream, she can scream, if she's had enough sometimes, she can say it," Maxine says. "She can just be herself."

Maxine is a volunteer with Legacy Corps. a program that gives respite to caregivers of frail or older adults, to help them remain in their home. It's administered by The Community Place of Greater Rochester, and paid for with a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service. "This program has enhanced a lot of people's lives," says local Legacy Corps director Heschlier Edmunds. "It's something across the board, if I asked my clients, there's definitely a need in the community."

"To have a service right there, it was very timely and available," says Yvonne. "I didn't have to go through a lot of hoops to get connected with it. It made it a lot more peaceful."

Maxine is one of 24 volunteers serving 35 clients in Rochester. Volunteers go through intensive training and are provided a small stipend for one year of service. So far, Maxine has provided respite for the families of 7 older adults. The grant for Legacy Corps in Rochester runs out this March, but The Community Place hopes to bring it back. In the meantime, with the support of Maxine, Yvonne is getting better every day.

For more information on the many services provided by The Community Place of Greater Rochester, click here.