NATCHEZ — Clara Mearday’s vision for her new homecare business called Lending Love is to give love to people who need it.

Lending Love, 603 Franklin St., Natchez, offers in-home assistance to elderly and disabled people.

“We provide certified nursing assistants and personal care attendants who are trained and have undergone background checks,” Mearday said. “We do the cooking, cleaning, bathing … oral care, skin care and provide companionship. We provide love. We are lending love.”

Lending Love celebrated its official opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this month and now has six staff members to provide home care services in nine counties, starting at home in Adams-County, Mearday said, adding that receiving care can come at little or no cost to clients.

Lending Love accepts Medicaid and other private insurance.

Mearday, who has worked in healthcare for approximately 10 years, attended nursing school at Alcorn State University.

Mearday said she has always had a soft spot in her heart for elderly and disabled people. All four of her grandparents on both sides of her family have died, the last being more than 10 years ago.

“Both of my grandmothers had lung cancer,” she said. “The family — my mom mostly — took care of them. I was there with her because I was her shadow.”

Mearday said she found a way to do what she loves while working on her own terms, providing jobs and meeting needs in the community.

“Some people can’t take off work to help their families, or some people don’t have children to help them and are by themselves,” Mearday said. “That’s where we come in.”

Mearday said she doesn’t want to settle for working on someone else’s terms, so she became an entrepreneur while following where her heart leads.

“I love building relationships with clients,” Mearday said. “We’re just an extension of the family. We’re just here to provide love and keep you comfortable at home. … God just put it heavy on my heart, ‘This is what you should do.’”

Those interested in receiving care or who have questions can call 601-334-3605 or stop by the office on Franklin Street.