10/12/2026
Joy Project #3
When I pulled up to Dewayne and Tina’s house, I found them out back in the shed finishing up a smoke (see picture) — a place where they spend a good portion of each day. Larissa, our Home Care Aide, mentioned that after the housekeeping and shopping is done, she and Tina spend time counseling each other on how to live their best lives.
Unlike others, this Joy Project wasn’t planned in advance. It happened naturally when Larissa recognized an opportune moment while doing her job and truly made a difference for her client.
As Tina recalled, “We were out doing our weekly grocery shopping, and right before heading to the register, Larissa and I went over our items to make sure everything was approved under the OCC program. We were confident the card had sufficient funds and everything was covered. But once everything was scanned and the card was swiped, it only covered $0.68 of the total.”
“I thought we’d have to start pulling items out and figuring out what we could keep and what we had to put back,” Tina added. “I was feeling so embarrassed, and we really needed those groceries. Right then, Larissa handed the cashier her own card to cover the bill.”
While we generally discourage our employees from paying our clients' personal expenses, we love seeing true friendships blossom alongside their professional relationship. We understand why Larissa felt compelled to step in and help.
When Nita and Rachal brought the situation to my attention at the office the following week, they were understandably concerned. While they care deeply about our clients, part of their role is training staff to avoid boundaries that could lead to unprofessional dynamics or feeling taken advantage of. While Larissa’s gesture was rooted in kindness, leaving a client in debt to an aide could disrupt the balance of that relationship.
To address this, I asked for the receipt so HomeJoy could reimburse Larissa directly, preserving a balanced and professional dynamic. I also let them know that if Dewayne and Tina were open to letting us share their story as a Joy Project, HomeJoy would cover the cost of the debt entirely. They gladly agreed, which brings us up to date with to the story you are reading today.
