WILTON – SeniorsPlus recently honored 150 volunteers who contributed to serving area senior citizens in Franklin and northern Oxford counties in the last year.

“When you stop to recognize just how much work gets done by people who are not paid, and are simply giving from their hearts, it’s overwhelming,” said SeniorsPlus Volunteer Coordinator Annette Dorey.

Agency-wide, Dorey said, 387 volunteers at SeniorsPlus last year contributed 22,025 hours. Their services to many communities are valued at $315,288, if they had been paid salaries.

“People do everything from working in meal site kitchens and delivering Meals On Wheels to answering phones, conducting annual yard sales and providing transportation to medical appointments,” she said. “We have 20 different volunteer opportunities.” Some volunteers work behind the scenes, while others prefer face-to-face contact.

Dorey said the agency welcomes new volunteers, and attempts to match people to the level of service and type of volunteer job they are most comfortable with. There are openings now, she said, for transportation, as well as answering phones and learning computer tasks.

The SeniorsPlus Volunteer Celebration was held recently at the AmVets Hall in Jay. Volunteers were feted with a dessert buffet and entertained by the Mount Blue Voices, an acapella singing group from Mount Blue High School coached by Dennis Hayes.

Several volunteers were honored for outstanding hours of service in 2003. Volunteers who donated 325 to 725 hours of service included Edna Davis, Margaret McLeary and Methel Goodwin at the Wilton dining site, Jane Totman in transportation, Lisa Chase, Opal Varnum and Maggie Weston at the Rumford dining site.

SeniorsPlus is the Area Agency on Aging for Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties, formerly Western Area Agency on Aging. The nonprofit agency provides information and services to older citizens and is supported by funds from the Department of Human Services, the Bureau of Elder and Adult Services, area United Way Agencies, local municipalities, consumer contributions, the generosity of private donors, and the dedication of volunteers. SeniorsPlus is on the Internet at www.seniorsplus.org.