CLEARFIELD – Ann Reid, a local APPRISE counselor for Clearfield County, was presented with the Distinguished Service Award for outstanding service and dedication to the APPRISE program, the State Health Insurance Counseling Program. The award signed by John Michael Hall, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, and Darlene Sampson, statewide APPRISE coordinator, was presented to Ann on June 22 at the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging office by Alice Pollock, CCAAA’s APPRISE coordinator.
Pollock learned that Reid would be receiving the award at a luncheon hosted by the PA Department of Aging on May 7 at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College to honor all the APPRISE volunteers in the Northeast and Central regions.
Reid is one of nine volunteers in Clearfield County who dedicate their time each week to be a part of APPRISE and to answer the state’s hotline assisting Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries who have questions about Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid or health insurance. Clearfield County is one of 12 APPRISE programs that staff the phone lines each week.
Reid, a retired bank teller, is noted in the community for her pleasant smile, caring attitude and her willingness to volunteer to help others. She has been a volunteer with the APPRISE Program for the past five years and is always willing to donate extra time when needed. As part of the APPRISE team, Ann works on the telecenter each Monday and this past year helped her team answer over 3,030 calls. Ann also helps with scheduling of shifts and often fills in as a subistute when needed. In addition, she helped when APPRISE hosted town meetings on the new Medicare Part D Drug Program that was rolled out and when needed, she has come into the office on other days to help make call backs.
Nominated by her peers with the Clearfield County APPRISE program, Reid was chosen for this award because she serves not only as a volunteer for APPRISE but in many other volunteer positions. Active in her church and a member of RSVP and the Curwensville Woman’s Club, Reid also volunteers with the Toys For Tots Program, Clearfield Area Ministerial Food Pantry, American Cancer Society, Caring and Sharing For Kids, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc. and many other programs. Reid truly fits the old saying, “If you need something done, ask a busy person”.
Programs and services of the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging are funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Mature Resources Foundation, and local and client contributions.
