The Companion Connections Testimonials
Companion Connections (formerly The Friendship Squad) Testimonials
"I've been chatting with my squad friend since November 2021. I am an introvert and tend to isolate, so it's been helpful to have structure and commitment. I now look forward to our conversations and I am so happy to have a lovely new friend."
- Mary
(who received a friend)
"I love being part of an organization that connects people from over the world to become friends. The Friendship Squad is amazing! I am humbled to be associated with a loving, caring, inspiring network of friends."
- Regina
(who offered her friendship as a volunteer)
"Being a part of the friendship squad allowed me to meet some strong women that I may not have met otherwise, who I can learn from. We can talk about struggles we are going through, and work together to lift ourselves up. Being a part of this group helps me open myself up to understanding myself and the world around me."
- Amanda
(who received friends)
"The Friendship Squad model works for it is written in our DNA to be social creatures….We thrive on the bonds we have with one another, and I didnt get the weight of this knowledge until COVID isolated me from my fellow counterparts. The Friendship Squad brought the reality of what connections mean full circle to me and for that I am simply grateful."
- Caitlin
(who offered her friendship as a volunteer)
"Stania became my friend through The Friendship Squad a few months ago. She keeps in contact with me almost on a daily basis. I tell almost everything about myself. She's a nice person and I am happy to have her as my friend."
- Tom
(who received a friend)
“The Friendship Squad offers a chance for me and a peer from a different way of life or geographic area to connect in ways that are different from a telehealth call from a therapist or a psychiatrist. No therapy. Just two people sharing their pains, joys, tribulations, successes, missteps, hopes, fears, and dreams.”
- Phillip
(who offered his friendship as a volunteer)
"I have been matched with a wonderful and caring human of worth. I am pleased to continue with my friend [who was] matched for me. Thank you! I am deeply grateful for The Friendship [Squad's] support as my friend and I are supporting each others' life journey."
- Anonymous
(who received a friend)
"Friendship is important to me. Regina is in her 50s and I am in my 40s. I like talking on the phone with her and she sends me emails. Our female friendship is off to a good start. She encourages me and I try to be a good friend to her in return."
- Ayesha
(who received a friend)
"Without the support that Companion Connections brings, I have no safe spot to talk about my disability. By talking with and sometimes meeting up with peers who also have struggles because of mental illness, I finally understand that we are not alone. I have experienced at least four companions through phone. I also participate in Service Exchange and Peers in Person, where I meet interesting peers face to face. I am grateful that Companion Connections and City Voices exist because it is a step forwards in mainstreaming the people who live with mental illness"
- Tom S
(who received companionship)
"Companion Connections has proven to be an important part of my support network. My connections companion routinely calls me to do a wellness check and she motivates me with her patience and positive messages. As someone who has had her own recovery life experiences, she is someone who I deeply admire and respect as she shares her personal wellness tools with me. She is friendly, a good listener, non-judgmental, and never fails to impress me with her great communication skills. As someone who is mostly homebound due to major health issues, I am extremely grateful to Companion Connections for her immense support, encouragement and inspiration."
- David G.
(who received companionship)
“My companion connection is very good. We talk and he gives advice on some things that happen in my life. Very nice person. I would like to meet him face to face, but he's in another state….”
- Steven K
(who received a companion)
“My experience with companion connections has been really positive. It is fun meeting new people and getting to know them. I find it very rewarding.”
- Stania C
(who volunteers)
“The power of being a companion. I talk to my companion weekly and I enjoy talking to her. She is very wise and a humble person. She traveled to California and Europe. She told me things about California and Europe. One day in the future I would like to travel to California and Europe. She has a lot of experience with traveling to new places. She has wisdom.”
- Ana I
(who received a companion)
“Calling [my companion] weekly is very rewarding. He may not tell me that I made his day, but I can tell by his tone of voice, and excitement. We aim for weekly chats…we have lots in common [like being] night owls. I always look forward to our evening calls. Before I started these calls, I had a void, and it was definitely filled by Companion Connections. I get the word out to friends of how incredible this service is.”
- Gayle D
(who volunteers)
“I received great help from [my companion]. Thank you City Voices [for the] Companion Connections [program].”
- Lilli M
(who received a companion)
“My experience with the Companions Connections program was extremely valuable to me and has had a very positive impact on my life. Being paired up with someone who was generations younger than me initially had me wondering if a connection could be made. But it absolutely did. And I developed such a genuine affection for her, much like that of a protective older sister or aunt. There was real reciprocity in the relationship too, as I learned an incredible amount about myself through her. For one thing, I realized how my tendency to retreat when overwhelmed can leave other people feeling unseen, neglected, or unimportant. I realized just how important it is to make sure the other person knows that you care for them, are thinking of them, and will not abandon them. I am working on this every day….I am making a real effort to be more aware of that dynamic. I am grateful to her for challenging me on this, as it led to real growth for me. And it deepened my affection for her. I fully intend to continue the relationship with my companion, as it is so much more than a program with an endpoint. It is a beautiful human connection that transcends space and time.”
- Jen H
(who volunteers)
"I can say with certainty that Companion Connections helped me a lot in the social arena where I needed them to. I appreciate it and recommend it to other people."
- Khalifa A
(who received companions)
“I was a bit hesitant to participate at first because I thought it might be emotionally draining, dealing with someone who needed companionship. Instead, I find the communication I have with my companion emotionally rich and rewarding. I have been paired with an extremely intelligent, emotionally aware, and interesting woman with whom I share a lot of common interests. I find our conversations intellectually stimulating and look forward to the time we spend together….I feel that my own life experiences may be helpful to my companion in her recovery journey as well as helping me see these experiences in a new light as I express them out loud. I think we are both obtaining positive insight into how best to deal with life’s challenges.”
- Arlene L
(who volunteers)
“Companion Connections is a great community and I have a lot of support. I am grateful to be a part of this community”
- Mary M
(who both volunteers and receives companions)
“Companion Connections, with our particular match, because of our differences in availability, is cumbersome, but still pleasant. It takes patience. Having a friend send texts every so often is a needed surprise. I am looking forward to the next part of our friendship!”
- Cat Lover
(who received a companion)
“The beginning of my time with City Companions was a little bit bumpy for reasons that might forever remain a mystery. Contact with the first two people stopped after only a couple of conversations. My subsequent two companions have now settled into a familiar rhythm. These few months have taught me not to overthink interactions, which tends to be my default habit. People's behavior speaks to what is going on for them rather than a reflection on me. I also discovered meeting people where they are at can be an entirely different experience during each encounter. Moreover, connections can grow, even in silence, because a stable presence has power all its own.”
- Riva N
(who volunteers)
"I have been connected to both Women and Men. The experience opened my eyes about others’ struggles. I have had a very hard time connecting with people outside of our Mental Health population; however here at Companion Connections, it has been very comforting to speak with diverse people all around the USA. In one case, I arranged to meet with someone who lives in a Southwestern location where we met in person at a restaurant and was treated to a luxurious meal. I have been amazed at how Dan has connected so many of us, all with the intention of sharing our struggles and victories."
- Daniel W
(who received a companion)
“I’m a person in recovery from substance use disorder, and service has been a huge part of my life for the past seven years through my 12-step fellowship....I’ve absolutely adored the people I’ve been paired with. What started as an opportunity for me to give my time and companionship has ended up adding so much to my own life too. The conversations are real, meaningful, funny, and sometimes the highlight of my week. Turns out when you ask the universe for a new way to serve, it may just send you some really cool people to talk to every other week. I’m incredibly grateful...for the connections I’ve made through this program.”
- Betty G
(who volunteers)
“I am learning that, maybe, I am a likeable person. Maybe, when I am my authentic self, I truly am okay with others and even liked. I'm learning how to let others support me. This is super good and extremely scary! I can grow to feel comfortable in receiving support. My CC person is delightful. She shares about her life. I definitely want to give support generously to her. I am learning how to do this as I get to know her. I am learning through experience that building supportive friends is a process that takes time…”
- Virginia S
(who volunteers)