Gain experience you can't get anywhere else while you help people who are experiencing some form of personal crisis--from a bad day to a broken heart to a traumatic loss or depressive illness.
Volunteer on Samaritans 24-hour suicide prevention hotline and provide emotional support to those who feel depressed, overwhelmed, in crisis or suicidal and need someone to talk to. Samaritans hotline responds to people of all ages and all backgrounds, including teenagers and the elderly, people suffering from illnesses like cancer or AIDS, victims of violence or sexual abuse, individuals with a mental illness or substance abuse issues, the homeless, unemployed and people just like you and me who suddenly find themselves facing some overwhelming obstacle or personal tragedy and need help getting through their moment of crisis.
The work is challenging, the training intensive, and the experience extremely rewarding! And you'll gain valuable counseling and communications experience that can help you get into grad school, make a career change or simply grow more yourself.
In fact, Samaritans hotline volunteers develop personal and professional skills that have helped them land jobs in the public and private sector (mental health, public health, education, etc.) as well as get into some of the most respected social work, psychology, counseling and other related graduate programs in the country (NYU, Columbia, Hunter, Berkeley, Princeton, etc.).
We are currently running orientation sessions for the Winter Volunteer Training Class. The next orientation sessions are Tuesday, January 8, Monday, January 14 and Tuesday, January 22 (with additional dates to follow).
To learn more and to attend an orientation session, please email your full name, phone number and residential street address to samaritansnycvol@aol.com or call (212) 673-3041 to receive a Volunteer Information Packet by mail. (In your message, please indicate you found us on Idealist.) We look forward to hearing from you!
Volunteer Requirements: Volunteers work as a cooperative team in a convenient Village location, each donating one morning, afternoon or evening a week (preference is given those who can do weekday morning or afternoon shifts) and one overnight shift a month. Must be at least 21, possess good listening skills, patience and sensitivity and be able make a 6-month commitment after training. No experience necessary!
