Without the many wonderful volunteers that give their time to speak to our callers the Friendship Line would not exist. Trained volunteers at the Friendship Line make and receive calls to and from individuals who are either in crisis or just in need of a compassionate voice and listening ear.
Please fill out our online application and we’ll contact you with the next steps.
Think you would make a great addition to our team?
Volunteers have direct contact with callers and provide:
Emotional support
Reassurance
Elder abuse reporting
Social connection
Information and referrals
Crisis intervention
Volunteers get more than they give!
“Volunteering at the institute on Aging has been the most rewarding experience I’ve ever undertaken. When constantly hearing how you’ve made someone feel better, it reaffirms the importance of compassion and connection.” -Nicole (Friendship Line Volunteer)
Training
Volunteers attend a comprehensive on-going training program providing the appropriate tools to handle all our calls. Training topics include:
Suicide risk assessments
Cultural diversity awareness
Active listening
Emotional support
Elder abuse reporting
Challenging call scenarios
Talking to people living with a physical disability and/or a mental health condition
We ask volunteers to commit to 200 hours, which can look like 3-to-4-hour weekly shifts over 12 months. Our daily volunteer hours are: 7-11am, 12-4pm, 4-8pm, 5-9pm, and 7-9pm.
