On Friday, Nov. 7, the Edgartown Council on Aging, also known as the Anchors, held a volunteer recognition luncheon to thank and acknowledge all who have volunteered their valuable time, efforts and skills to Anchors programs, events and projects over the last year. The luncheon was attended by 60 of the 64 volunteers who donated and contributed a total of 2,200 volunteer hours in the last year, which is the equivalent in dollar value of an additional $33,000 added to the Edgartown budget.

Volunteers participated in more than 30 different services, including, to name a few, running the lunch program, acting as receptionists, helping with bluefish distribution, lunch and meal delivery, and social and recreational events. Volunteers and volunteer hours increased more than 40 per cent from the previous year, a remarkable achievement. The Anchors cook, Diane, did a wonderful job of preparing and serving a lunch of meatballs, tortellini, and spumoni. The crowd was entertained by the enjoyable musical stylings of Jeremy Berlin and Eric Johnson on keyboard and guitar, and everyone received a gift of Chilmark Chocolates donated by the wonderful people who own and operate our favorite chocolate shop.

The entire luncheon was sponsored by the Friends of the Edgartown Council on Aging, without which this event and many other Anchors activities would not be possible.

On behalf of the town of Edgartown, the Anchors staff and the elders whom we serve, I would like to sincerely thank and recognize our volunteers — and all Island volunteers — who contribute so selflessly to our human services and charitable organizations.

Paul Mohair
Edgartown

The writer is administrator for the Edgartown Council on Aging.