SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Carly Spencer has grown accustomed to her new role as part of the “sandwich” generation, meaning the Spanish Fort woman has both children and aging parents to care for.

“With the kids, it’s simple. You’ve got other parents to vent to and bounce ideas off of, but with your parents it’s different. If you complain, you feel ungrateful, but it really is just a lot to deal with when you’re one person,” she said.

Providence United Methodist Church might have just what Spencer’s looking for.

A new support group targeting caregivers of aging parents will hold its organizational meeting at 6 p.m. March 14 at the church located at 32200 Jimmy Faulkner Drive.

Providence’s pastor, Rev. Bob Sweet, said he has personally seen the toll this situation is taking on his parishioners, and he knows it’s becoming a communitywide issue.

“We in the church are called to carry one another’s burdens,” Sweet said, noting the meeting will be an opportunity for anyone caring for aging parents to “seek ways to hold each other up.”

Kathy Dean, communications chairwoman for Providence, said no one involved with the newest ministry is quite sure what to expect, but the idea is to let those attending the organizational meeting set the tone.

“We want everyone who takes part to realize they’re not alone in dealing with a lot of these issues, and we want to come up with some ideas that are helpful to everybody,” Dean said.

For more information, call the church office at 251-626-2510, e-mail pumc.office@bellsouth.net or visit www.providencemethodist.org.

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