CONTACT Peninsula Inc., which is affiliated internationally with LIFELINE, a worldwide interdenominational ministry, has a 20-year history of community service. One of a handful of founding centers to open in this country in 1969, there now are about 85 such centers nationwide. In 1982, CONTACT USA was one of 16 recipients of the Presidential Volunteer Action Award.
In addition to CONTACT Peninsula’s 24-hour crisis helpline and the sexual assault division, other programs include:
* Daily CONTACT, which provides emotional support for the elderly and handicapped through a daily phone call.
* Trouble teams for suicide cases, which go out on cases of threatened or attempted suicide.
* Teletypewriter service for the deaf, which allows a hearing or speech-impaired person to communicate with the outside world through CONTACT’s 24-hour TTY relay at 874-7279.
* CONTACT-A-FRIEND, a latchkey program that provides a friendly listener for children who are at home alone.
CONTACT needs volunteers, who must be at least 18 years old or a high school senior. “We’re looking for men and women with mental and emotional stability, commitment and willingness to extend themselves,” says Gail Robertson, the organization’s executive director.
CONTACT’s 10-week annual volunteer training begins March 3, 1990. A prescreening interview is required. If you are interested in training, or need more information about CONTACT’s services, call 244-0594.
If you need to call the crisis helpline, the numbers are 245-0041 or 874-7279 from Williamsburg and James City County.
