Guilford Friendly Visiting

Guilford Friendly Visiting is an outreach program that carefully matches volunteer visitors with people wishing a friendly visit. Our primary objective is to enhance ones quality of life through weekly “friend to friend” connections. The program is designed as a social program — not as a respite or transportation program.

Description:
Trained and caring volunteers visit any homebound or isolated Guilford resident once a week for a year or longer. There is no fee and scheduling of visits is flexible. Visits can be structured, centered on a specific activity or can be as casual as having a cup of tea or taking a walk. Many of our matches become lifetime friendships and benefit all involved. Presently there are fifty Friendly Visiting matches.

History:
From the beginning of Guilford Meals on Wheels in 1985, the volunteer drivers reported that many clients were home bound and isolated and that they were as hungry for companionship as food. In January, 1986, the GIM Board decided to begin an outreach program and worked with the New Haven Interfaith Caregivers to establish the Friendly Visiting program. The first trained visitors began their mission in January 1987. In response to the growth of the program, the GIM Board hired a Friendly Visiting director in January, 1990.

Contact people:

Lori Wells, Program Director, (phone), (email) Gail O'Leary, (phone), (email) Joann Carson, (phone), (email)

Address:

310 State St, Unit 200 Guilford, CT 06437 (See a map)

Web Site: http://gimct.org

Directions:

Take Exit 58 on I95 and proceed towards Guilford. Make a left at Route 1. Make a left at the next light, State Street. Turn into the driveway at 310 State Street, Sachem Hollow.

Last updated on June 29, 2009