Catholic Charities of Buffalo has partnered with Immaculate Conception Parish in Ransomville to offer a free, monthly respite program for people living with Alzheimer's or other dementias beginning Thursday, Sept. 12.

The respite program will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Immaculate Conception Church, 4671 Townline Road, Ransomville. Trained volunteers will provide fun, purposeful, supervised activities for those dealing with memory and cognitive issues.

This free community service is made possible through a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and fulfills its mission of relieving caregiver burden and stress, and improving the lives of caregivers and the lives of their loved ones.

The Niagara County respite program joins similar programs funded through the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation in Erie and Genesee counties. Orchard Park Presbyterian Church hosts Open Door @ OPPC from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the church, 4369 S. Buffalo St., Orchard Park; and the Hope Center of LeRoy hosts a respite program from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at the center, 42 Main St., LeRoy. To register for the Orchard Park program, contact Sherry Pomeroy at 716- 662-9348, ext. 309 or at sherry@oppchurch.org; to register for the LeRoy program, email Melinda Stedman at mstedman.hopecenter@gmail.com.

"There is a growing need for caregiver support in our communities," said Joyelle Tedeschi, director of Family and Community Services at Catholic Charities of Buffalo. "And our vision is to create supportive, dementia-friendly communities that reduce burden and prevent burnout, through a strong partnership of professional service providers and community volunteers."

Immaculate Conception Church's respite program is free of charge and open to the community. Registration is required.