Do you enjoy making a difference in your community, the lives of others and your life? Then consider becoming a member of Senior Spectrum's Coastal Community Center's Volunteer Corps and begin your journey on the path towards living well. Volunteers are crucial to the Coastal Community Center's work with Lincoln County's active agers and maturing population. To learn how you can play an important role in the life of one or more individuals within your community come to the Coastal Community Center's Open House for Prospective Volunteers on Thursday, November 15 at 2 p.m. Lending a helping hand can be the ideal antidote to the pressures of modern life.

Volunteers are at the heart of the Coastal Community Center's vital work - without volunteers we simply could not provide our unique services to the Lincoln County communities and consumers that we serve. Senior Spectrum depends on hundreds of people from all over Central Maine who freely give up their time to help every week - but we urgently need more volunteers to get involved. Although the majority of our volunteers train as Meals on Wheels drivers, many others choose to help in administration, fund-raising, outreach, marketing, education or other roles. If you have the time, it's very likely that we have the opportunity.

Senior Spectrum relies on ordinary people doing something extraordinary - helping to change senior's lives. There is no such person as a "typical volunteer." Our volunteer campaign challenges the idea that volunteering is something that only "other people" can do. Our volunteers come from all walks of life and include accountants, civil servants, school bus drivers, chefs, company directors, teachers, as well as full-time parents, retired people and students. Which just goes to show that whatever you do, you really could do this too.

Senior Spectrum's Volunteer Corps are women and men, teens to elders, who put their talents and skills to use across every aspect of the Coastal Community Center's programmatic continuum of support and care for mature adults and their families throughout Lincoln County.

Our volunteers are the driving force and creative energy that underlies everything that our Center does to empower our consumers to continue to lead vibrant, meaningful and independent lives. Over the last year more than 100 volunteers donated their time (3,000 hours) and exper-tise to Lincoln County's nineteen rural communities. Their contribu-tions enrich their own lives and make Coastal Maine a better place to live.

You have skills and talents that are needed in your community. You have developed them over the years of life experience. Or you are new to the community and want to get involved. Or you are a young person who wants to gain experience by offering service. We have the job for you! You are never too young or too old to volunteer. By volunteering you will join with others who enjoy sharing their talents and experiences as: Lincoln County Advisory Coun-cil Members; Matter of Balance Lay Leaders and Coaches; Living Well: Chronic Disease Self-Management; Lay Leaders; Center Receptionists; Activities Coordinators; Program or Special Event Facilitators; Meals on Wheels Drivers; Meals on Wheels Assessors; Friendly Visitors or Callers Graphic Designers; Data Entry and Computer Support Specialists; Social Lunch Hosts or Hostesses; Coastal Happenings Distributors; Program Facilitators; Health and Wellness Program Leaders

Volunteers, whether giving a little time or a lot, are always welcomed and appreciated. Volunteer opportunities at Senior Spectrum may be of a short term nature or work that requires a more extensive time commitment and training. There are also tangible benefits to becoming a volunteer. Members of Seniors Spectrum's Volunteer Corps

participate in orientation sessions, training, and enrichment activities throughout the year as well as volunteer recognition events. Meals on Wheels drivers receive a travel reimbursement for mileage. AAA membership discounts are also available to all Senior Spectrum volunteers.

To learn more about giving back to your community come to the Coastal Community Center's Volunteer Open House on Thursday, November 15 at 2 p.m. or contact Volunteer Liaison Marianne Pink-ham (563-1363 or pinkham@senior spectrum.com ).