What is Contact?
24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, 365 days a year, the volunteers at Contact E.A.R.S. Helpline answer
the calls of individuals in the Lawrence County area. The phones are
available to everyone, regardless of age, gender, religion, race or financial
status. Every call is anonymous and confidential.
Contact E.A.R.S.
Helpline is incorporated as a Pennsylvania non-profit agency and is
registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations.
Affiliated with CONTACT USA and LIFELINE INTERNATIONAL, we are members of the
Lawrence County Council of Community Services, the Pennsylvania Association of
Information and Referral Agencies ("PAIR") and the national Alliance of
Information and Referral Services ("AIRS") and the Lawrence County Chamber of
Commerce. We are also a member agency of the United Way.
Our Mission Statement
CONTACT E.A.R.S.
HELPLINE is a non-profit associaton of volunteer telephone workers that
strives to help callers realize their human potential, self worth, and inner
resources to resolve problems or issues affecting their well being.
CONTACT was founded on Judeo-Christian principles: caring, love,
peace, inclusiveness, and social justice in serving those individuals who call
us to service. Our service area is primarily Lawrence County.
What Services Does Contact Provide?
Helpline
Volunteers,
through supportive listening, help callers to express their feelings and offer
nonjudgmental support. Callers are encouraged to explore options and to
use their own problem-solving abilities.
Crisis Helpline
Thoughts of suicide occur
to almost everyone at some time. People who are experiencing a crisis
often regard suicide as the only way to stop the pain. Volunteers at CONTACT
are trained to understand these feelings, help the caller focus on a
solution or initiate emergency services when necessary.
Information and Referral
Many people call CONTACT
for information on a variety of subjects. As members of the
Pennsylvania Information and Referral Services, CONTACT volunteers have
access to information about hundreds of community, state-wide and national
services, such as mental health agencies, support groups, human service agencies
and agencies that help with basic life necessities.
Contact Reassurance
Through daily reassurance
calls, CONTACT volunteers provide a valuable human link for those who are
ill, handicapped or living alone. Clients receive a daily call at their
request. The caller makes sure the client is safe and well and helps the
client feel connected to others.
