Compeer Rochester Seeks Volunteers
Compeer Rochester launched its new “Scroll Less, Connect More” campaign, encouraging Rochester-area residents to trade a few hours of screen time for a more lasting experience. The goal is to build friendships and connections. Compeer volunteers spend their time offering support for children, adults, or veterans who are experiencing loneliness.
The campaign aims to recruit more passionate volunteers to help reduce the number of people on its waiting list. The message is simple: the average American spends roughly 64 hours each month scrolling social media. Compeer Rochester is asking people to swap just four of those hours a month for a real-world friendship that can make a meaningful difference.
Volunteering can be as simple as grabbing a cup of coffee, going for a walk, or doing something of shared interest. Community perks, such as museum discounts, are also available to volunteers and their matches.
The launch comes as loneliness continues to be recognized as a serious mental health issue. A recent Washington University report on an eight-country study found that nearly half of the young adults surveyed reported loneliness. The study’s researchers describe loneliness as a powerful marker of mental health risk. For Compeer Rochester, that finding reinforces what the organization sees locally every day: people need real connection, and volunteer friendship can be one practical way to help build it.
“We want people to understand that making these connections can be simple and effective if it’s done with intention,” said Sara Passamonte, CEO of Compeer Rochester. “For someone who is lonely or isolated, having another person consistently show up can be deeply meaningful. Very often, our volunteers also report that the experience has positively affected them as well, helping them find purpose, friendship, and a stronger sense of community. This campaign is about reminding people that a few hours a month can create something genuine in an increasingly isolated world.”
Those interested in volunteering can learn more and sign up at https://www.compeerrochester.org/scroll-less-connect-more.
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