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Date: 7/8/2020
SOUTHAMPTON – The Council on Aging (COA) recently honored its vice chair, Lori Loiselle, as their Volunteer of the Year.
“Lori is an accomplished businesswoman and born leader, who uses her people skills and kindness, to include many of our seniors in weekly bingo. For over 20 years she has taken board office positions including chair, vice chair & secretary for the Council on Aging, [Friends of the Southampton Council on Aging] and TRIAD. Her volunteer work and friendship are priceless,” said COA Director Joan Linnehan.
Loiselle admitted being chosen for the award was not something she was expecting. “A total surprise first of all. I was shocked and humbled,” she said.
Something she wishes everyone understood was that volunteers get more out of volunteer work than the person they are working with.
Over the 20 years of being with the COA, her favorite thing is the interaction with the people. She enjoys calling Bingo because they are like a little family. It’s always the same people. Once a month she provides a birthday cake for all celebrants in the bingo group. Due to the center being closed, she sent cards to anyone celebrating a birthday so they knew they were thought of.
Loiselle has been involved with volunteer work since her two children, Susan and William, were 7 and 9 years old. She was a Cub Scout mother and then a Brownie leader.
She moved to Western Massachusetts 25 years ago because her daughter wanted her closer because she was a widow and living alone. Being new to the area, she knew she had to get involved. Loiselle involved herself in adult literacy in Northampton and for three years she worked with the American Cancer Society before she decided to join the COA to do something within her own community.
Along with volunteering her time at the center, for ten years she has been involved with Kevs Foundation, in memory of her grandson Kevin Major. Loiselle said the foundation was created to help prevent cardiac arrest in young people.
Her first volunteer job at the center was TRIAD, a partnership of the Hampshire/Franklin County Sherriff’s Department, local law enforcement, senior citizens, and the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, providing support and protective services. Three years later, they needed a secretary and she volunteered to fill the position. “Eventually as people passed away, I moved up to chair,” said Loiselle.
Loiselle plans on staying at the center for another few years to continue to do the work they are doing.