Lorena García (Hondón de las Nieves, 1991) had been trying for quite some time to participate in volunteer programs that would be compatible with her job and her classes as a student in the psychology program at the UMH, until one day she discovered the #UMHAccompaniesYou program.

“We were in class, and they came to give us a talk about various volunteering models both within and outside the university, as well as the organizations with whom they had agreements. They explained this initiative to us, a different volunteering model I had never heard of, carried out through telephone calls by the Red Cross,” García explained. To this, she added, “There are no words to describe how much you help through a call and how it makes you feel.”

QUESTION: What was your feeling after that first “introduction” to volunteering?

ANSWER: After the talk ended, I went home to mull it over, thinking that this could really be for me. The next day, I wrote to them, and they told me there was a little time left before the next call for applications, but that they were counting on me. Some time passed, then they reached out to me, saying, “Look, a new edition of the program is officially opening. If you’re available and interested, you may participate.” And that’s how it happened. They included me, and I was thrilled because this is a very enriching volunteering experience with so many positives. Above all, you can organize your time in such a way that you’re available and active during any free moments you have.

Q: Since it’s online, it’s easy to fit into daily life.

A: Most of the volunteering opportunities I had researched required being physically present during the week, on weekends, or during summer or Christmas holidays. There are times when you can manage to travel, but others when you can’t. You create a bond with the people you’re helping and accompanying, so it’s not something you can just do on and off—one day yes, another no; one month yes, another no.

Q: What makes #UMHAccompaniesYou different?

A: Well, it’s done over the telephone. I generally had one or two completely free mornings a week when I didn’t have to work or go to class. So, I organized my time accordingly and informed the UMH and the Red Cross about my availability. From your home or wherever you are, with just a computer and a phone, you can volunteer. You simply share your availability, and they adjust the calls and schedules of the users assigned to you for that time. It’s very well organized, so there’s really no excuse not to participate.

Q: What was your one-on-one work like with the people who requested this service?

A: They provide you with an internal chat to communicate with your Red Cross supervisor, who is the person responsible for assigning you the calls. There’s a filtering process, and you progress gradually depending on how long you’ve been involved. They introduce you to the user, forward the call to you, and then you spend some time talking with that person, who might need just ten minutes or up to an hour to chat. Once the call ends, you send a report to the Red Cross with the user’s full name or code. You note how they seemed, any comments regarding their mood, whether they need another call that week or can wait until the next, how the conversation went, and what they shared with you. After filling out the form, you submit it. If you’re unsure about something or noticed something you can’t fully comment on in the form, you can contact your Red Cross supervisor for guidance.

Q: You never feel like you’re “alone” with the patient.

A: Exactly. They are always offering advice to help you support and assist these individuals. You might initially think, ‘I’ll be all alone at home, answering calls from people who could be dealing with anything from a bad day to something more serious or urgent.’ But you always have access to the chat and can communicate with your Red Cross supervisor during and after calls. You don’t feel alone; you’re supported at all times, both during and outside of your designated schedule, which you set yourself. If your availability changes, they inform the users. Both the Red Cross and the UMH make it very easy to dedicate the time you have and need to this volunteering work.

Q: Who are the people you’re working with?

A: It’s a mix, but generally, they are older adults who, for one reason or another, are alone most of the week. These include people living alone, without their children, and most are widowed. There are also people who come to this service after dealing with depression or going through difficult times. They are often in a better place when they join but still need companionship.

Q: This initiative started in 2020 because of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns. Do you think that situation affected these people’s lives?

A: I think it did, at least to some extent, although there’s also a positive side. For example, we’ve come to value family and friend time more. However, there’s also this tendency to think it’s okay to keep postponing things. I believe some families have fallen into a cycle of work, responsibilities, and leisure, often leaving older adults at home alone since the pandemic, and even now. You know what’s interesting about this kind of volunteering? It also engages the users’ children. They realize there’s a volunteer talking to their parent once or twice a week, and they see it’s helping. In turn, the users talk about us with their families, creating a dialogue within the household. The loneliness issue has worsened somewhat since the pandemic, but we, the volunteers, are here to support them however we can.

Q: How do you approach the sessions? What do you prioritize?

A: For me, the first call is the most important. When the Red Cross contacts me and says there’s a new user—this is their age and situation—that’s crucial. Users share part of their story with the Red Cross, but when they talk to us, they start to open up, and more things come to light.

Q: Why is that first contact so important?

A: During that first call, which is an introduction, people often share more than they might have initially told the Red Cross during their first interview. They might share their name, relationship status, whether they have children, and, most importantly, how they feel. It gives you an idea of how the sessions might progress, although there are always surprises. For me, that first call is crucial because it helps you gauge the person’s needs. You can determine if they might need more frequent calls that week or if they simply need someone to chat with for a while. You absorb a lot during that initial conversation—it helps you understand what the person might need and allows you to focus on how you can help. If you can pinpoint that from the start, each session with that person will progress much more smoothly than if you take it too slowly.

Q: What’s the most important thing you can say to someone experiencing loneliness?

A: On the one hand, it’s about what they make us feel, which is an enormous sense of gratification. These people never say goodbye with a simple “bye;” it’s always “thank you, when will you call again?” or “thank you, when will we talk next?” Then there’s the impact you have on them. At first, they’re often more guarded—sometimes they don’t even share their children’s names. They try to provide some information, but they don’t know you yet. Imagine being connected to a stranger through the Red Cross and having to share your life story with them. During those early calls, they’re more reserved, but as time goes on, they open up. They share intimate details, ask for advice, and even inquire about you—your life, what you do for work, and your hobbies. There’s a huge exchange between them and us; it’s not just us giving, but a mutual connection.

Q: Volunteering is often seen in terms of what you give to others. But what does volunteering give you?

A: For me, it’s one of the best things that has happened this year. We often don’t realize how lucky we are until something happens close to us, and then we think, “Wow, how fortunate I am.” But in our daily lives, we forget to appreciate things like living close to family, being healthy, feeling supported, and having friends. These are things we take for granted, thinking they’re normal, but they aren’t for many people. When we think of our grandparents, we often imagine them happy and close to us, but for many people, that’s not the case. Volunteering makes you appreciate what you have and reminds you to care for those around you. And thanks to this program, we can also care for people who aren’t physically close to us. I think many volunteers don’t realize they’re not just doing a good deed but also gaining something for themselves. It may sound strange, but it’s beneficial for their future and opens doors in unexpected ways.

Q: Volunteering offers a perspective that’s completely different from your daily life.

A: I believe it makes you a bit more human. At the university, you have classmates, professors, and sometimes there’s a sense of rivalry. Then you graduate, start internships, deal with limited openings, and think, “I have to do this to achieve my goals.” You can get caught up in a cycle—not necessarily of competing with others but of constantly pushing yourself to be better, more competitive, and to keep advancing. While that’s good, we can’t forget that our humanity must always be on the same level as these ambitions. Volunteering grounds you and reminds you that even if you have big personal or professional goals, you’ll go further if you stay grounded. Volunteering, being part of a cooperative team, and helping people in need—offering them what you can, even if you’re not an expert—teaches you that you don’t need to be perfect to make a difference.

Q: Finally, Lorena, what would you say to people who are considering helping others but are unaware of the UMH Accompanies You program?

A: Well, I’d mainly address people who have been thinking for a while about how they can help or do something for someone. I think this is a wonderful initiative. For those who may have never considered it before, now is the time to try it out and think about it. Volunteering is one of those things that, once you try it, if you must stop for some reason—perhaps due to lack of time or resources—it leaves you with this lingering feeling of, “When can I do this again?” or “When will I be able to get back to it?”

So, whether you’ve thought about it before or not, give it a try. UMH Accompanies You is a very well-organized initiative where, from the very beginning, you realize you’re making a difference in someone’s life. Personally, it’s taught me a lot and made me appreciate many things, and I think we all need that.

I encourage everyone, especially the university community, to get in touch with the UMH Service of International Relations, Development Cooperation, and Volunteering. Get informed, and once you try it and experience what volunteering is, I promise you’ll want to keep going and always find ways to help someone. I fully recommend it 100 percent.