Pinebrook Family Answers' Compeer program is expanding into Northampton County. The Compeer motto is, "Make a friend, change your life." Compeer of the Lehigh Valley matches adults who live with a chronic, long-term mental illness in friendships with adult volunteers. Volunteers spend one hour per week with their Compeer friend doing the standard kinds of things that friends do, chatting over a cup of coffee, going for a walk, playing cards, doing crafts, etc.
Volunteers receive three hours of training and must pass all of the same background checks that our employees must pass before being matched with a friend. We do ask that volunteers devote one hour per week for a period of one year to the volunteer experience and often these matches turn into true friendships. In fact, we often hear, "We don't need Compeer anymore because we are real friends."
Compeer volunteers learn how valuable friendships are to people who are striving towards good mental health. Since many of the people referred to Compeer have limited involvement with family or other friends, volunteers can provide the comfort and reassurance needed for coping with mental illness. Click here to learn more about the program or fill out a volunteer application. To see a short video click here.
