-
4 people are interested
Meaningful opportunities to support elders in your community
ORGANIZATION: FriendshipWorks
Please visit the new page to apply.
-
4 people are interested
FriendshipWorks was founded 35 years ago to help reduce social isolation, enhance the quality of life, and preserve the dignity of older adults in Greater Boston. This work is accomplished by recruiting volunteers of all ages, faiths, and backgrounds who provide friendship, advocacy, education, assistance, and emotional support. Volunteers are critical to helping address the serious health risks posed by social isolation in the elder community, including accelerating brain and cardiovascular aging.
Help us make matches that create connections, lead to friendships, and reduce isolation , one elder at a time. In turn, you are rewarded with rich one-on-one relationships. The beauty is in both the giving and receiving at FriendshipWorks.
We have a variety of volunteer opportunities in Newton, Brookline and all of Boston’s neighborhoods and offer flexible hours of service. We also offer friendly visiting, medical escorts, friendly helpers, and MusicWorks programs in Spanish. We are currently looking for volunteers for:
Friendly Visiting: Friendly Visitors develop one-on-one relationships with older adults. They visit once a week to drink coffee or tea, share stories, go for walks, or assist with small tasks. Over time, both people grow and learn from each other, often becoming great friends.
Medical Escorts: A "door-through-door" service where volunteers accompany elders to medical appointments, providing personalized support before, during, and after the visit. No car or driving necessary but escorts are typically weekdays during business hours.
Friendly Helpers: Volunteers provide short-term assistance to elders who have a specific need, but no one to help. Activities include: helping with organization, seasonal tasks, and accompaniment on errands.
PetPals: The pet visitation program brings volunteers and their pets to visit elders living in long-term care facilities. PetPals is a highly requested program that provides comfort in a unique way for everyone involved.
MusicWorks: This popular music program brings the joy of music to elders in their buildings, offering them the opportunity to listen, to engage, and participate in (through musical instruments, singing, and dancing!) musical group activities with a musician. Musician volunteers also welcome! Music groups occur weekday mornings or afternoons.
To volunteer, please complete a volunteer application at: http://www.fw4elders/volunteer/apply-online/. A staff member will then reach out to you to set up an interview.
Also visit our website to learn more: www.fw4elders.org
30 More opportunities with FriendshipWorks
1 ReviewOpportunities
About FriendshipWorks
Location:
105 Chauncy St, Suite 801, Boston, MA 02111, US
Mission Statement
FriendshipWorks, formerly MATCH-UP Interfaith Volunteers, recruits and trains caring individuals to assist elders living in the Boston area. Our mission is to decrease the isolation that too often comes with age and disability, to promote well being, and to enhance the quality of life of elders. We have seen firsthand the difference ongoing companionship and support can make both for our care recipients and our volunteers.
Description
FriendshipWorks offers a variety of support services to elders in the Boston area. We make friendship matches between volunteers and elders. Volunteers often provide companionship, read aloud, take walks, or assist someone with errands. In addition to ongoing companionship, FriendshipWorks provides one-time assistance such as volunteer escorts to and from medical appointments and respite for family caregivers.
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
105 CHAUNCY STSTE 801BOSTONBOSTON, MA 02111
DATE POSTED
January 8, 2020
SKILLS
GOOD FOR
N/A
REQUIREMENTS
- Background Check
- Must be at least 18
- Orientation or Training
- Time commitment varies by opportunity. We ask friendly visitors to make a year commitment, typically visiting once a week. Friendly helping and medical escorts are short-term commitments.
- All volunteers should complete the application on our website. They will then be contacted by phone and will be required to attend a training and pass a CORI check.