Wanted: Volunteers

By Christopher McLaughlin, Executive Director of Elder Services

April is Volunteer Month. It is not only a great time to thank and acknowledge our volunteers (see page 12) for all they do to enrich the lives of Berkshire seniors but also to encourage others to consider volunteering. Elder Services cannot do what we do without our volunteers. They selflessly share their time, talents and life experiences to help make the lives of their neighbors more fulfilling.

Thankfully, the worst of the COVID restrictions are behind us. However, the reality is that during the darkest days of the pandemic, we lost some volunteers. Though the number of volunteers decreased, Berkshire seniors need for support and assistance did not. Are you willing to make a senior’s life a little easier and spread some “sunshine” to someone who needs some assistance?

Many people truly love our community and genuinely want to help. However, the thought of volunteering can be intimidating. Some believe that volunteering means having to commit many hours a day, several days a week. While there are opportunities for those who choose to work several hours a day, our volunteers commit to the number of hours and days that best suit them.

Volunteering is a tremendous opportunity to expand your horizons and introduce new light and life into the world of others in our community. Elder Services volunteers enrich several of our programs: