GUILDERLAND — Joseph Purcell loves to volunteer and, as Community Caregivers’ new president, has made it his mission to improve the agency.
"It’s a great organization," he said.

As a retired school teacher and administrator, Purcell will bring his experience in working with others and coordinating activities to the group, he said.

Community Caregivers harnesses the energy and skills of volunteers to provide free services for Albany County residents in need. For example, a volunteer may drive an elderly person to a medical appointment or help an ailing young mother with child care.

The Caregivers was originally based in Altamont and is now located at 300 Mill Rose Court, off Route 155 in Guilderland.

Purcell, 68, was a member of the board of directors for six years. His term was up this year and he was asked to replace co-presidents Judith and Arnold Rothstein.
"I’ve been a member of the board for a long time," said Purcell. "They needed someone to be president, so I said I’d do it."

As president, Purcell said his responsibilities include providing leadership to the board of directors and working with the group’s executive director to coordinate policies set by the board.
"I’ll help carry on the operation of the organization," he said.

Purcell first heard about Community Caregivers at his church, Christ the King, in Guilderland. At the time, the organization was based in Altamont, but trying to expand to the Westmere area.

The Caregivers’ executive director spoke about the organization at a mass one Sunday, Purcell said.
"I was about to be retired for the second time and I thought it was a good organization to get involved in," he said.

Purcell was the executive deputy director of the School Administrators Association of New York State.

Before that, Purcell served as a teacher, supervisor, counselor, curriculum and instruction administrator, and principal for the Guilderland School District.

He lives in McKownville with his wife, Eileen. They have five grown sons.

Purcell draws from his experience in education in his new role as Caregivers’ president.
In his career, he said, "You’re leading and coordinating and motivating. You’re trying to get people to work their best. It’s the same thing with Caregivers.
"It’s a different kind of thing, but you’re trying to provide activities with people both in educating kids and making people more content living in their homes," he said.

Purcell hopes to make transportation a bigger part of Community Caregivers, since it is highly requested by senior citizens.
"Whether it’s taking them to the doctor, or to therapy," he said, "We’re making an effort to increase our availability to help."

Purcell also wants to recruit more volunteers to drive people to medical and other appointments.

He’ll also work to increase the group’s financial backing.
"The real exciting part is there are services, but there is a cost to providing them," Purcell said. "One of our goals is to have an organization whose income matches its expenditures."