{"id":34993,"date":"2026-03-12T05:07:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T09:07:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/dc-program-pairs-senior-volunteers-with-those-needing-someone-to-talk-to\/"},"modified":"2026-03-12T05:07:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T09:07:14","slug":"dc-program-pairs-senior-volunteers-with-those-needing-someone-to-talk-to","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/dc-program-pairs-senior-volunteers-with-those-needing-someone-to-talk-to\/","title":{"rendered":"DC Program Pairs Senior Volunteers with Those Needing Someone to Talk To"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773306434088.png?resize=1%2C1&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34992\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>A Washington DC community program is preparing senior volunteers to offer their time and attention to individuals seeking someone who will simply listen without charge.<\/p><p>The initiative, known as Friendship Bench DC, draws its inspiration from the original Friendship Bench program that began in Zimbabwe. The local version focuses on teaching mature volunteers the skills needed to provide compassionate listening services to community members who need emotional support through conversation.<\/p><p>The program emphasizes creating meaningful human connections by pairing trained older adults with people who are looking for someone to talk through their concerns or experiences in a supportive environment.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Washington DC initiative called Friendship Bench DC is teaching older adult volunteers how to offer free listening services to community members seeking human connection. The program is based on a similar model that originated in Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":34992,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[837],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34993","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773306434088.png?fit=1%2C1&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-96p","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":24033,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/milans-young-volunteers-guide-olympic-visitors-to-hidden-sacred-treasures\/","url_meta":{"origin":34993,"position":0},"title":"Milan&#8217;s Young Volunteers Guide Olympic Visitors to Hidden Sacred Treasures","author":"Admin","date":"February 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"During the Winter Olympics, young volunteers in Milan are leading visitors away from the crowded Duomo to explore the city's lesser-known churches through a program called 'The Path of Beauty.' The initiative connects Olympic tourists with Milan's rich religious heritage while offering moments of contemplation amid the bustling Games.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Religious&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Religious","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/religious\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771605960910.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771605960910.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771605960910.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771605960910.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":80170,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/delaware-farm-bureau-starts-new-program-connecting-families-with-local-crops\/","url_meta":{"origin":34993,"position":1},"title":"Delaware Farm Bureau Starts New Program Connecting Families with Local Crops","author":"Admin","date":"June 11, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Delaware Farm Bureau has unveiled a new initiative called \"Healthy Meals, Local Fields\" to help families learn how to cook with locally grown produce. The program will offer recipes and cooking videos featuring Delaware specialty crops throughout the summer.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Agriculture&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Agriculture","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/agriculture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781204824545.png?fit=940%2C788&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781204824545.png?fit=940%2C788&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781204824545.png?fit=940%2C788&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781204824545.png?fit=940%2C788&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":56782,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/park-bench-friendship-two-women-find-bond-after-loss\/","url_meta":{"origin":34993,"position":2},"title":"Park Bench Friendship: Two Women Find Bond After Loss","author":"Admin","date":"April 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A pair of women who both lost their husbands share the story of their unexpected friendship. Their bond began when they met at a park bench and has grown into a meaningful connection.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;U.S. News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777021648391.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":83502,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nonprofit-plans-100m-push-to-double-u-s-volunteers-to-150-million-by-2035\/","url_meta":{"origin":34993,"position":3},"title":"Nonprofit Plans $100M Push to Double U.S. Volunteers to 150 Million by 2035","author":"Admin","date":"June 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The nonprofit Points of Light, founded by former President George H.W. Bush, is set to announce a major new strategy aimed at dramatically increasing volunteerism across the country. The organization plans to invest $100 million to double the number of American volunteers from roughly 75 million to 150 million by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;U.S. News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781778701498.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781778701498.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781778701498.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781778701498.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2034,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/governors-volunteer-award-honorees-announced\/","url_meta":{"origin":34993,"position":4},"title":"Governor&#8217;s Volunteer Award Honorees Announced","author":"admin","date":"December 23, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Forty-eight individuals and 13 groups will be honored with the 2021 Governor\u2019s Outstanding Volunteer Award during a virtual ceremony to be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 17, 2022. The recipients will be recognized for significant contributions, engagement and impact in diverse service activities. Throughout the month of December, staff members\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/volunteers.jpg?fit=960%2C419&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/volunteers.jpg?fit=960%2C419&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/volunteers.jpg?fit=960%2C419&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/volunteers.jpg?fit=960%2C419&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":77950,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/fix-it-dont-toss-it-repair-cafes-fight-throwaway-culture\/","url_meta":{"origin":34993,"position":5},"title":"Fix It, Don&#8217;t Toss It: Repair Cafes Fight Throwaway Culture","author":"Admin","date":"June 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Volunteer-run Repair Cafes are spreading nationwide, offering free help to fix household items instead of throwing them away. The movement challenges disposable culture by teaching people to repair everything from broken electronics to torn clothing.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/science\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780835969730.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780835969730.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780835969730.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780835969730.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34993"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34993\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34992"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}