Volunteering with AFSP Eastern PA
February 16, 2021 – 5 min read
All of our chapter operations are made possible with the dedication of volunteers across the Eastern Pennsylvania area. Join us in our mission to #StopSuicide!
Register for our next Volunteer Orientation!
We will be hosting an AFSP 101 once a month for the next several months. Click on the date you'd like to attend to register.
Below is information about the different levels of volunteer engagement depending on how much time you are able and ready to give. We welcome you, whether it is just for the day or for much more! Don't forget to keep scrolling to read more about our chapter committees, whether you hope to join one now or simply learn more about everything we do here at AFSP.
We are in the process of building out our Eastern PA board and committees, so please note that if you would like to join us you will be part of that process.
Complete our online volunteer application to get started!
Levels of Engagement
Day of Event Volunteers
Sign up to help out during the day-of at a chapter event! There are numerous opportunities throughout the year to help us with events. From set up and tear down to running stations like event registration, pickup for prizes and other goodies, craft tables, and more, we need your helping hands! Our busiest time of need for day-of volunteers is in the fall during our Out of the Darkness season.
Committee Participation
If you are looking for more consistent and ongoing participation, join one of our chapter committees. Get to know fellow volunteers and chapter leaders, and share your good ideas to help us shape the future of this chapter. We have a range of committees, described below, some of which are seasonal planning committees while others are active year-round.
Chapter Leadership
Individuals with a desire for a higher level of involvement are encouraged to pursue leadership within the chapter. Chapter leaders develop and steward our strategic plan, and serve as a source of guidance and support for fellow volunteers. We offer leadership opportunities that vary by level of responsibility and time commitment, including both board- and non-board-level positions. All leadership roles require application to be reviewed by the Nominations Committee and subsequently voted on by the chapter Board of Directors. While prior volunteer experience is required before taking on a leadership role, it is never too early to start exploring your leadership goals within the chapter! We want to support your endeavor to become a leader in suicide prevention. Please contact our Area Director, Samantha Bruno, at [email protected] to discuss your interest in leadership.
Chapter Committees
The AFSP Eastern PA Chapter is working hard to bring suicide prevention resources to as many people as we can across Central and Eastern Pennsylvania. It is through a number of volunteer-run committees that we are able to do this work, and hope you will consider joining us! The following chapter committees are described in more detail below:
- Community Walk Committees
- Education Committee
- Loss & Healing Committee
- Public Policy Committee
- Volunteer Engagement Committee
Community Walk Committees
The annual Out of the Darkness Community Walks would not be possible without the hard work of our volunteer walk chairs and planning committees. Each fall, AFSP Eastern PA hosts walks in 10 sites across the state. These committees are a great place to start for new volunteers looking to gain a broader understanding of our role in the community. As a committee member, you will have the opportunity to:
- Raise awareness and funds to serve our mission
- Aide in the planning of a meaningful event that attracts thousands of local attendees
- Recruit and support walk participants
- Grow community & sponsor support
- Set the groundwork for new partnerships with organizations, schools, and community leaders
Education Committee
AFSP offers a number of free education programs to the public to increase awareness and understanding of this complex health issue. Members of this committee will become trained to distribute educational materials and present our programs. A few of the programs that you might deliver are listed below.
- Talk Saves Lives (TSL): Present our introductory suicide prevention program and its specialty modules to a range of audiences aged 18+.
- More Than Sad (MTS): Present this teen-specific program to adolescents aged 14-18, parents, and educators. Work with schools and youth-based programs to implement regular trainings.
- It's Real: College Students and Mental Health: Present to high school seniors and college students to encourage help-seeking with this unscripted documentary and facilitated discussion. Collaborate with schools and universities to incorporate this program into their curriculum.
- Tabling Subcommittee: Attend a variety of community and mental health fairs to share resources and information about our work.
Loss & Healing Committee
Support for survivors of suicide loss can make a big difference to those who are grieving. If you feel ready and wish to share your compassion and empathy with those who are navigating their grief journey after a suicide loss, the Loss & Healing (L&H) Committee needs you. L&H volunteers are active in planning meaningful events and activities for loss survivors, and reaching out into the community to share our resources after loss. As a member of this committee you may:
- Help plan remembrance activities for our major community events (i.e. Out of the Darkness Walks, Hike for Hope, etc.)
- Connect with relevant community partners to raise awareness about the resources available to loss survivors
- Plan our annual International Survivors of Suicide Loss (ISOSL) Day events in the area
- Facilitate small group discussions at our ISOSL Day events
- Become a trained Healing Conversations volunteer to provide direct peer support to other survivors of loss
Bold Goal Committee
Get involved with our local efforts to support this national initiative to reduce the annual rate of suicide in the U.S. 20% by 2025. Learn more about Project 2025 and work with us on the four critical areas identified to save the most lives in the shortest amount of time:
- Firearms
- Large Healthcare Systems
- Emergency Departments
- Corrections Systems
Public Policy Committee
Advocates looking to engage in meaningful dialogue with others about suicide prevention can apply their passion to shape changes in policy at the local, state, and federal levels. Join this committee to:
- Learn how to engage in advocacy (no prior experience is required!)
- Recruit Field Advocates to take advantage of easy ways to weigh in on policy issues
- Work with chapter and national leadership to identify advocacy opportunities at various levels of governance
- Plan, coordinate, and attend the annual State Capitol Days in Harrisburg
- Build and maintain relationships with community leaders and elected officials to update/enact policy to enhance suicide prevention
Volunteer Engagment Committee
We strive to build a strong volunteer community and need your help to welcome and support other volunteers! Work with our Volunteer Chair to create a positive volunteer experience through:
- Direct outreach to recruit, welcome, onboard, and thank volunteers
- Planning and coordination of events to recruit, onboard, and steward volunteers (i.e. new volunteer orientations, social events, appreciation events)
- Oversight and communication of chapter volunteer opportunities to registered volunteers
Complete our online volunteer application to get started!
Still have questions about getting involved?
Contact our Area Director at [email protected]