Community Corner

Counseling Volunteers Help Peninsula Seniors

The Peninsula Family Service honored six Peninsula Senior Peer Counselors, including a Belmont woman, for their volunteer service at a luncheon at the Basque Cultural Center.

David Storrman expressed his feelings of embarrassment, but eventually, he simply allowed the tears of joy to flow.

And not a soul could blame him.

Storrman, a 15-year senior peer counselor, was one of six achievement award recipients at the Senior Peer Counseling Recognition Event, held by Peninsula Family Service Tuesday afternoon at the Basque Cultural Center in .

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“I’ve met so many interesting people,” Storrman said. “I met one guy whose father was a machinist for Thomas Edison. I met a few Alzheimer’s people who were just the nicest people and we would go for coffee at Starbucks. I just love all the stories.”

The Senior Peer Counseling Program is a year-round volunteer counseling service offered by Peninsula Family Service, a San Mateo-based non-profit that serves children, families and older adults. The Senior Peer Counseling Program is designed to offer seniors, ages 55 and up, one-on-one peer counseling from trained individuals with similar backgrounds and of similar age.

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The program consists mainly of seniors going through life changes, dealing with health issues or depression, or those simply in need of support or guidance. The counseling is offered in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin and Tagalog and is also welcoming to the LGBT community.

Five of the six award recipients were on hand for the event, and each was presented with a plaque for their dedication to volunteer service.

Foster City resident Lyn Varni, who has been involved with the program for 20 years, commented that her motivation to volunteer derived solely from the people she has encountered over the years.

“The counselors are so dedicated, and we all work together," Varni said. "We were always together. We really, really clicked. I feel that this program is so helpful to seniors.”

The event’s special honoree was Belmont resident Teresa Hurtado, who is retiring after having served in the program since its inception in 1988.

“It’s a very gratifying program, and it’s a win-win situation as a peer counselor,” Hurtado said. “You’re helping somebody, but it also helps you. All I can say is that it’s a wonderful program. It’s enriching, it’s gratifying, and it helps you grow. It helps you understand the world better.”

In 1990, Hurtado organized La Esperanza Vive, the Senior Peer Counseling Program’s Spanish component. She served as coordinator of the program for more than 20 years.

Other recipients on hand were Ana Stefano of San Mateo, who was recognized for her 10 years of service, and Candeleria De La Paz of San Bruno, who has been with the program for five years.

Not on hand was Maria Gonzalez, an award recipient for her five years of volunteer service.


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