OAKWOOD – The torch is being passed at Legacy Link in Oakwood.
Founder and CEO Pat Freeman’s final day at the helm is Sunday, January 31. The non-profit agency’s Senior Community Service Employment Program Director, Melissa Armstrong, will be taking Pat’s place.
Legacy Link was designated in 1997 by the U.S. Department of Human Services as the 13-county Georgia Mountains Area Agency on Aging, advocating for older adults through a wide variety of programs.
But Freeman’s work with senior citizens and others needing assistance began well before that. “Back in 1973,” Freeman said reflecting on her lengthy career during a surprise luncheon hosted by her co-workers on Wednesday. Armstrong, standing next to her mentor, smiled and simply said she wasn’t around back in ’73 when that happened.
Armstrong, originally from Gilmer County, knows she has big shoes to fill. Over one hundred people work at the Mundy Mill Road headquarters and thousands of clients look to them for advice, provision and representation.
“I am excited to be able to step into Pat Freeman’s shoes because she has provided a wealth of wisdom,” Armstrong said. “It’s amazing to have the history of someone who has been doing this since the early 70’s, to see how not only to deal with the good times, but the challenging times, like the ones we are in right now.”
Freeman says 2020 has been unlike any of the many years she has spent working with seniors. “I don’t know what ‘normal’ is anymore. I think we’re looking for a new ‘normal’,” Freeman said.
She says the final months of her tenure with Legacy Link have had a unique focus. “We want to help people stay out of nursing homes instead of going in prematurely…so we make arrangements so health care workers go into their homes. We want to make people as independent as we can.”
Armstrong says in her role as Employment Program Director she has witnessed firsthand the challenge seniors are having with holding a job, either part or fulltime, outside of their homes. “You’re seeing a lot of issues such as food insecurity starting to emerge,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong added, “It’s an interesting time, with the…funds we have been able to receive through the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act and other stimulus programs to be able to meet those challenges in a creative way.”
Armstrong says Legacy Link’s need for volunteers is higher now than ever. “I would encourage anyone who would want to get involved or volunteer in any capacity to contact Legacy Link so that we can match their skills with an appropriate opportunity.”
She says people have been surprised to hear that Legacy Link is still using volunteers to help with its programs.
To contact Legacy Link, whether you need help or would like to help, click here or call: (770) 538-2650.
