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-- Programs and Services -- Contact Information SHINE on volunteers
December 2, 2004 marked a highpoint for Elder Services' SHINE program. Nine new counselors joined the program, and Nancy Witusyznski was awarded the Governor’s Award for Outstanding SHINE Counseling by Kim Latta from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs. In addition to the Berkshire counselors, two additional volunteers, one from Hampden County and one from Hampshire County, were also part of the class.
Training as a SHINE volunteer entails 35 hours of classroom discussion, practice quizzes, homework, and a final exam. This past year, a record number of individuals took on the challenging, yet rewarding, responsibility of becoming a SHINE volunteer. When the announcement of a new SHINE volunteer class appeared in the local media, the calls came in quickly. Caring citizens, aware of the confusing array of healthcare payment choices facing seniors, said to themselves, “How can people be expected to know all this? Someone has to help!”