The Long Island Crisis Center recently presented its annual Volunteer of the Year 2000 Award to Sylvia Essman, a resident of Plainview for 33 years.

Beginning as a counselor assistant, Essman has been a volunteer since 1990. After graduating from the counselor-training program, she became a hotline counselor.

According to other volunteers, Essman often stays longer than required to interview prospective volunteers. To help new counselors, she also volunteers her time to mentor new trainees. More recently, Essman became a member of the Community Education Outreach Team in which members go out into the community and give workshops about the services offered by Long Island Crisis Center as well as host tables at schools and fairs.

"I always wanted to do something like this and 11 years ago, one of my friends who knew I wanted to volunteer recommended me," said Essman. "I went for an interview and have been involved with it ever since."

As a crisis counselor, Essman answers phone calls and talks to those that walk in to the center. "We really don't turn anyone down," said Essman. "Our main focus is the youth of Nassau County, up to age 21, and their families."

Essman explained that volunteers try to counsel those who contact the crisis center or give out a referral if needed. Although they will talk to someone a few times, the crisis center does not do ongoing counseling or therapy. "They have to see a therapist for that," said Essman.

People call with any kind of problems, according to Essman, such as kids who have problems with their families, drugs, abortions, family abuse and homelessness.

There are no limits and counselors only ask for the first names of callers so they can call someone by name. "Callers remain anonymous and they can even make up a first name if they want to," said Essman.

Essman said it was a great honor to be named Volunteer of the Year 2000. "The Long Island Crisis Center is proud to have Sylvia as a volunteer and hopes she will remain at the agency for a very long time," said Fran Turtel, program coordinator at the crisis center.

The hotline number for the Long Island Crisis Center is 679-1111, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A new hotline that the crisis center has been answering for the past few months is Children of Hope, which is specifically designed for girls so they will hopefully not abandon their babies. "We will find a safe place for them, accompany them, if necessary, for the birth and take care of them before the birth," said Essman. The Children of Hope is anonymous and of no cost to the girls. That number is (877) 796-HOPE.

Anyone interested in volunteering at Long Island Crisis Center should call 826-0244.