Volunteer Opportunities

HEALS Program

Callen-Lorde’s HEALS program began years ago with the help of moms from Parents, Families & Friends of LGBTQ+ People, a national advocacy group that works with Callen-Lorde often. The moms would accompany Callen-Lorde patients to emergency rooms—and fiercely advocate for them — if they needed serious medical help but were uncomfortable going alone.

Today, the HEALS program is a flexible, meaningful way to give back to Callen-Lorde and individual patients. Patients ask for volunteers to accompany them to or take them home from

• Emergency room visits
• Any Callen-Lorde procedure that requires sedation, such as a colonoscopy
• Any situation where they need an advocate, such as hearings or an appointment at the Department of Motor Vehicles

HEALS volunteers are an integral part of ensuring our patients feel comfortable, safe and supported during vulnerable moments. Here are some testimonials from our patients and volunteers:

• “It felt so wonderful to have a trusted support system while I was in the emergency room. I was scared but having a Callen-Lorde volunteer there really helped me feel less anxious.”
• “It was really great being able to support a Callen-Lorde patient at the emergency room. I know how scary that can be, so I was so glad to be able to help.”
• “I didn’t have anyone to escort me home from my colonoscopy and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get the procedure done. The volunteer was so friendly and got me home safely.”

Interested in volunteering? Email fbrigham@callen-lorde.org to learn how you can make a difference for patients. If selected, you’ll onboard with our Human Resources department and we will reach out when there’s an opportunity to volunteer.