SOUTHAMPTON — Every community needs a Kate DiSanto. Whether it’s through her work as director of the Council on Aging, as a parent or just as a friendly face, Southampton wouldn’t be the same without her.

That is why she has been honored as one of 147 women statewide — and four in Hampshire County — in the 2026 class of Commonwealth Heroines. The state program, run through the Commission on the Status of Women, recognizes dozens of women each year who make their community a better place to live.

“It’s an honor, honestly,” DiSanto said. “I’m so grateful for the recognition and I think it’s such a huge highlight for the Council on Aging.”

During her interview at the Southampton Council on Aging (COA) with the Gazette this past Wednesday, DiSanto was prepping the space for the floors to be buffed and the walls to get a fresh new coat of paint, part of a mid-summer facility revamp.

While enjoying a meal provided by the COA, resident Rosiland Morin noted that DiSanto brings a lot to Southampton.

“She’s great. She always does a good job and she’s always got a smile,” Morin said.

Through the Commission on the Status of Women’s program, each Massachusetts legislator is invited to nominate one woman from their district to honor annually. DiSanto was nominated by state Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, who said the decision was an easy one after seeing how DiSanto leads by example every day.

“She’s a force multiplier,” Velis said about DiSanto. “She does a lot of everything for some of our most vulnerable constituents, to our older adults. One of the highest compliments I can give someone is that they care. There is so much apathy out there today, and Kate DiSanto cares.”

DiSanto made the trek to Beacon Hill in June when the heroines gathered for the annual program ceremony. She noted she was honored to be in a room full of women who have all accomplished so much in different ways.

“To see so many incredible women across the state and what they’re able to accomplish in their communities, to be part of that class of 2026, was an honor,” DiSanto said. “It was nice to feel that connection with the folks from the rest of the state.”

DiSanto has been the director of the Council on Aging for nearly two years and also serves as Southampton’s SHINE (serving the health insurance needs of everyone) coordinator. In addition to her professional roles, she is the parent of two children in the Southampton school system.

“We’ve only been in Southampton since 2021, and just the strength of the relationship that my family has grown with the community here has been phenomenal,” DiSanto said.

DiSanto lived in Holyoke before moving to Southampton after the COVID-19 pandemic. She previously volunteered at the Veterans’ Home and served as the secretary and chair of the Special Education Parent Advisory Council for Holyoke Public Schools.

“I’ve always loved working with seniors,” DiSanto said. “I like being involved, but in a way that makes an impact, or at least a one-on-one difference with individuals.”

According to DiSanto, anyone 60 or older can become a member of the COA for free, which helps increase the state funding the facility receives each year. Since she started in her role, she is proud to have seen both membership and daily involvement steadily increase.

She considers the SHINE and Medicare counseling the COA offers to be one of its greatest assets. When residents become eligible for Medicare, DiSanto offers counseling to help them find the best insurance options and benefits; members can return annually to review their coverage. Through that process, a number of people have secured significant savings based on their specific medical needs, DiSanto said.

Additionally, DiSanto has helped start public benefit counseling for a number of different programs at the COA, including fuel assistance, tax relief and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) partnership.

“Usually if somebody qualifies for one thing, they qualify for a lot more, but have no idea it’s out there,” DiSanto said. “That’s one of the biggest things I’m personally proud of because we’ve had the opportunity to have more of the surrounding community come in specifically for those services that might not have reached out otherwise.”

Beyond specialized counseling, the COA acts as a vibrant community space. Residents can enjoy a number of services, such as coffee chats on Wednesdays, yoga classes, pickleball and more. Looking ahead, DiSanto said the COA aims to increase programming, boost membership and eventually expand the physical space to offer more activities.

With all the work that the COA handles, DiSanto emphasized that none of it would be possible without her supporting team.

“We have such a fantastic team here. It’s just — it’s a lot of fun,” DiSanto said. “We say it all the time, ‘this is our happy place.’ It’s just nice to be able to come here and the support we’ve received from the community, the quality and experience of the staff that we have, has been fantastic.”

For more information about the COA, visit townofsouthampton.org/government/administration/council-on-aging.