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Greetings!
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SPOTLIGHT ON: The Season For Giving
Increased demand for CrisisLink's services signals increased need for volunteers & support
It truly is the season to give. Recent media
reports show an increase in calls to crisis
hotlines around the country due to the
current financial crisis. Suicide-related
calls to CrisisLink's 24/7 Crisis Hotlines
were up 142% in October alone. During these
challenging times, more people are feeling
overwhelmed by stress and anxiety and need a
place to turn. But this holiday season,
CrisisLink is doing more than ever to help
people struggling to get by.
CrisisLink is on the front lines responding
to people struggling with their own crises.
We're here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365
days a year to help when people need it the
most. We help people see hope for the
future, gain courage to persevere, and
understand that they are not alone. But we
can't do this alone.
Your support is critical to ensuring
CrisisLink is able to provide quality,
life-saving programs and services in the
region. Your support is essential to helping
us recruit and train volunteers who donate
more than 13,600 hours each year to keep our
Crisis Hotlines going strong. Your support
will help ensure someone who cares can be
there to answer the call.
CrisisLink relies on more than 80
highly-trained volunteers to staff our crisis
hotlines 16 out of 24 hours each day. As
calls to our crisis hotlines increase, the
need for more volunteers is increasing as
well.
Please
Donate
Today.
Your generous contribution this
holiday season will help support the volunteers
who give so much to help others, and our life
saving programs for the region.
Please
Volunteer
Today.
Find out how you can volunteer
at CrisisLink and make a difference.
How You Can Help Make a Difference at CrisisLink
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Conversations with: Pat Joy
Longtime CrisisLink Volunteer & Donor
Pat Joy is a dedicated CrisisLink volunteer
and donor. It is because of volunteers and
supporters like
Pat, that CrisisLink is able to provide the
region with vital, life-saving programs and
services.
Q: Pat, how long have you been involved
with CrisisLink?
A: More than 17 years!
Q: What keeps you involved?
A: CrisisLink is one of the few places that
directly helps to save lives. Not many other
organizations can say that every single day
we are helping those in need learn to help
themselves, and talk about why they are in
pain. I'd say that's a powerful reason.
Q: What are your roles as a volunteer here
at CrisisLink?
A: I am the call manager on my shift and I
am training to be an on-the-job trainer for
new Hotline Listeners. I also help with
CrisisLink's outreach efforts, often sitting
behind the booth at fairs and events, and I
have been AIRS (Alliance of Information and
Referral Systems) certified for CrisisLink's
newest program, 2-1-1 VIRGINIA.
Q: Which experiences have you valued the
most at CrisisLink?
A: That's an easy question. My wonderful
shift partners, the fabulous friends I've
made, and the staff! Plus, every week is
different. I am NEVER bored at CrisisLink
because you never know what to expect. Every
single call is different. It teaches you how
to roll with the punches, keep you focused.
I have learned something new with every
person I have ever shared a shift with-how
can you find that with any other volunteer
opportunity?
Q: What would you like to share with those
thinking about supporting CrisisLink?
A: CrisisLink provides a huge service for the
community. Volunteers and staff give so much
time to this organization. They make limited
resources go a long way in saving lives and
helping others.
Editor's Note: CrisisLink leverages
more than $500,000 in donated goods and
services each year to support our life saving
programs.
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The Faces of CrisisLink
Volunteers & Donors Tell Us Why They Support CrisisLink
I support CrisisLink because:
"Their mission speaks to my spirit, their
dedication goes above and beyond, and their
strong sense of duty and community touch my
heart and have provided me an important
opportunity to make a difference."
-
Laura Renenger, Donor & CrisisLink
Volunteer
"I have received much comfort and healing
from both giving and receiving support via
CrisisLink's support group. I donate
annually to CrisisLink to help ensure that
somebody in need can reach out and find
compassion and hope at the other end of a
phone line."
-J. U., Donor & CrisisLink
Support Group
Member
"I support CrisisLink because my husband lost
his mother and grandmother to suicide so I'm
passionate about our mission of saving lives
and preventing tragedies, and because I get
to work with truly talented, exceptional
people--our staff and volunteers--who save
lives everyday."
- Carol Loftur-Thun,
Donor & CrisisLink's Executive
Director
"It's rewarding to know you've helped someone
deal with a problem and reassure them that
everything will be ok."
- Laura
Harty, CrisisLink Volunteer
"I see time and time again that it is
possible to make a real difference in the
world one person at a time."
- Margaret
Mathis, Donor & CrisisLink's Director of Hotline
Services & Training.
"There are so many people
who are in their
darkest hour who need empathy and support.
And the people who volunteer their time at
CrisisLink are living proof that each one of
us has the power to help each other (even to
help a stranger) though times of personal
tragedy and crisis. "
- Lindsay
Paulette-Chapman, CrisisLink's Hotline &
Volunteer Manager
"I believe empowering people is the only true
way to help people. I also support CrisisLink
because they support me both personally and
professionally. CrisisLink is my second
family."
-Jamie Carter, Donor &
CrisisLink's 2-1-1 Call Center Director
"Our volunteers and staff believe so
passionately in CrisisLink's mission and
provide such a valuable service to this
community. Our work applies to all people in
all walks of life--anyone who has experienced
a crisis of their own can understand why
what we do is so important. I feel
privileged to work with such dedicated and
caring people, who so
selflessly give their time and hearts to
people who need it the most."
-Elizabeth Yen, Donor & CrisisLink's
Development
& PR Associate
I donate to CrisisLink because of the
positive difference we make in people's lives
every day and to support the amazing
volunteers who make so much of what
CrisisLink does possible. It's powerful
thing to work alongside so many
people--volunteers, donors, and fellow
staff--who are absolutely committed to
helping people get through the difficult
times in their lives and regain their sense
of hope for the future.
-Marshall
Ellis, Donor & CrisisLink's Director of
Development
"There are people who call to talk to
CrisisLink's Volunteer Hotline Listeners and
its the only person they'll speak to for the
day. Our volunteers are there for people who
feel they have nowhere to turn. I admire and
respect what our volunteers do."
-
Hyelan Park, Donor & CrisisLink's Finance &
Office Manager
"I am able to give the gift of time through
being a regular volunteer."
- Carmel
Comendador, CrisisLink
Volunteer
"We save lives when other people may not be
able to."
- Nate Kerr, CrisisLink
Volunteer
Your generous support this holiday season will go a long way to help those in need in our community.
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Thank you for your support!
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CrisisLink Chosen as one of Region's 64
Great Charities!
With the holidays in full swing, food is on
everyone's minds! Comfort Food from
CrisisLink, a cookbook featuring recipes from
CrisisLink volunteers and staff, is a
culinary expression of our mission. The
cookbook features eclectic food that will
satisfy anyone's appetite, along with helpful
suggestions and hints for the chef. All
proceeds from the sales of this cookbook go
to support our efforts to save lives and
prevent tragedies everyday.