Blair County’s 24-hour helpline, CONTACT Altoona has worked for the past 22 years to provide a listening ear to local residents who are either lonely, elderly shut-ins or for people who need somewhere to turn.
The telephones are staffed by trained volunteers, and more volunteers are needed to help this nonprofit telephone service continue.
“We are in great need of more volunteers,” CONTACT Altoona Executive Director, Terriann Grove, told The Daily Herald. “That’s why we have designated January as CONTACT Altoona Awareness Month. We want to recruit as many people to become volunteers as possible.”
She explained to become a volunteer, residents must take part in an 11-week training program. Classes are offered in February and September. The classes are free for those who register and the next class begins February 14.
Classes are held once a week with local professionals teaching classes on basic and advanced listening skills, understanding the elderly and helping people find information. Once the volunteer completes the training program, they are asked to volunteer two, four-hour shifts per month.
“We don’t ask our volunteers for a lot of their time during the month,” Grove said. “And we allow our volunteers to tell us when they can schedule their shifts. We try to make it easy for them.”
Along with the telephone hotline, CONTACT Altoona has a reassurance call service, where elderly residents are called to make sure they are okay.
“On more than one occasion, our reassurance call service has helped elderly people who have fallen or aren’t feeling well,” Grove added. “It’s a wonderful program.”
According to Grove, in 2003, CONTACT Altoona handled over 19,000 incoming or outgoing calls.
“In order to keep up with that kind of volume, we need more volunteers,” Grove explained. “The volunteers we have now are phenomenal. A lot are giving more of their time than what we ask for. That’s why we are after more volunteers.”
In order to attract more volunteers, CONTACT Altoona has started a January advertising campaign that will include newspaper advertisements, radio commercials and billboard advertising.
“We need to get the word out. We want people to know in order to continue with our services, we need more help from local residents. It’s a way for local people to give back to the community,” said Grove.
To become a phone volunteer and to inquire about registering for February classes, call 946-0531.
“It’s a great way for local residents to help make a difference in other people’s lives,” Grove added. “We hope to hear from a lot of people wanting to become a volunteer and make 2005 the year they open their hearts to others.”
