Jersey Desk - Local Volunteer Honored for Decades of Service with CONTACT of Ocean & Monmouth Counties

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Carol Weshnak celebrates 40 years answering the call with the crisis hotline.

TOMS RIVER, N.J. - JerseyDesk -- For nearly 50 years, CONTACT of Ocean & Monmouth Counties has been a listening ear for those in need, 24/7, powered entirely by compassionate volunteers. 2025 marked a special milestone for one longtime volunteer, Carol Weshnak, who celebrated 40 years of dedicated service to the organization.

Weshnak first discovered CONTACT in 1985 from an ad in the Asbury Park Press calling for a "Telephone Worker," a role the hotline now calls "Hotline Specialist." She felt drawn to the volunteer opportunity, eager to help others. Four decades later, she has become a source of comfort to countless callers and a mentor to other volunteers. Weshnak is a fierce advocate for the organization, even serving as Executive Director from 2004 to 2019. She is known at the organization for her knack for scheduling volunteer shifts, and was recently honored for her tenure earlier in the fall at CONTACT's volunteer commissioning event.

"For four decades, she has been a compassionate listening ear for both callers in crisis and the many volunteers she's supported," said Kim Santora, current Executive Director of CONTACT.

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With 40 years of service to the crisis hotline, Weshnak has witnessed the power of something as simple as listening.

"One suicide call I will share was from a woman who had taken pills and was regretting that decision. She really did not want to end her life. She had a dog– who would take her dog? I assured her that help was on the way and that I would stay on the phone as long as she needed," she recalled. "She thanked me for saving her life that night! It is a call I will never forget."

The opportunity to make a difference in people's lives– like this woman's– is what keeps Weshnak coming back every year. But a lot has changed at CONTACT since she began.

"When I started at CONTACT, most of our calls were local because the next county could be a toll call charge," she explained. "So much has changed over the years with cell phones, and we now receive calls nationwide and occasionally from outside the United States."

Carol encourages anyone interested in volunteering to sign up for the next volunteer training session: "You will make a difference in a caller's life. I know anyone who takes the training never regrets the time spent." With shorter training periods and more technological resources, CONTACT has made great strides in setting up their volunteers for success.

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CONTACT has always been driven by the call to help others. "Over the years many of us have come to know and count on Carol for her devotion to the CONTACT mission," praised Santora. "In all her 40 years here, one constant remains– Carol's dedication to the needs of CONTACT!"

To learn more about volunteering with CONTACT, visit contactoceanmonmouth.org/volunteer, email contact@contactoceanmonmouth.org or call 732-240-6104. If you or a loved one is struggling, caring CONTACT volunteers like Carol are available to listen at 732-240-6100. You never need to face tough times alone.

About CONTACT of Ocean & Monmouth Counties

CONTACT of Ocean & Monmouth Counties is a non-profit charitable organization that provides trained telephone listeners who respond to human needs 24 hours every day. This volunteer-based organization offers free confidential crisis intervention, information on available resources, and referrals to community services. To learn more, visit ContactOceanMonmouth.org.