Contact:	Arlene Klemow	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
	908/301-1899	December 18, 2008

 

Crisis Hotline Graduates Twenty-One from Training Class:
New Volunteers Take to the Hotline

CONTACT We Care, the 24-hour caring & crisis hotline named “2008 Best Statewide Volunteer Organization” by the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism, graduated twenty-one men and women from the non-profit organization’s intensive 12-week volunteer training program yesterday in Westfield, NJ. Representatives from the agency’s Board of Directors, volunteer pool, and staff joined with Executive Director David Owens of Westfield and Training Director Susan Fasano of Westfield as certificates of achievement were conferred upon each new graduate.

The graduating class included: Richard Adofo of Irvington, Michelle Brady of Hillside, Wilhelmina Bryant of Piscataway, Debbie Clark of Summit, Ken Coble of Dunellen, Jeanne Connerat of New Providence, Laurie Feinberg of Westfield, Kristen Frees of Linden, Pat Hanigan of Mountainside, Charlotte Jakub of Short Hills, Joey Khan of Neptune, Michael Lospinoso of Kenilworth, Nancy Mattern of Scotch Plains, Geoff McCarthy of Hoboken, Gregory Porpora of Westfield, Eva Smayo of West Orange, Melissa Stare of Morristown, Karon Thomas of Cranford, Rebecca Williams of Berkeley Heights, Sarah Williams of Berkeley Heights, and Gina Wood of Summit.

“We are thrilled to welcome these dedicated volunteers to the CONTACT We Care community,” said David Owens. “They are joining a caring group of nearly a hundred other compassionate individuals who give their time and energy to staff our Caring & Crisis Hotline. By offering the gift of listening, they make a tremendous difference, providing hope and saving lives.”

Since 1975 CONTACT We Care (CWC) has trained and supervised more than one thousand volunteers who offer the gift of listening to callers who are lonely, depressed, stressed or suicidal. CONTACT handles more than 12,000 calls a year — from individuals of all ages and backgrounds.

For more information about volunteering with CONTACT We Care or to register for the next training class beginning February 23, please call 908/301-1899 or visit the agency’s website at www.contactwecare.org.