Program trains volunteers to be a listening ear and provide a 'human connection'

Friendship Bench DC, an adaptation of Friendship Bench Zimbabwe, trains older volunteers to sit and listen to people who need someone to talk to for free.
LancasterOnline

Lancaster's Bench Mark Program recognized with juvenile justice award

Bench Mark Program, a city-based mentoring program for at-risk youth, recently received the “Community-Based Program of the Year Award” from two juvenile justice organizations for its work within the ...
The News-Gazette

Off the Bench | A homegrown example of an ombud program

Readers may recall my October column dealing with ombuds. After submitting that piece, I was reminded of an example very close to home. The Champaign County Bar Association has a Bench-Bar Ombudsman ...
WTNH

‘Buddy Bench’ program relaunches in Middlesex County

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (WTNH) — The community came together Thursday to relaunch the Buddy Bench program on the campus of Middlesex Hospital in Middletown. The latest Buddy Bench was built by Ian Young, ...
Los Angeles Times

After controversial removal of memorial bench, Huntington Beach puts program on hiatus

When her mother was dying of pancreatic cancer, Stephanie Ladsous knew just the way to publicly honor her. For Ladsous — who is admittedly “not a tombstone person” — dedicating a bench in Huntington ...
TwinCities.com

City sponsors Chanhassen memorial bench program

The Oct. 18 Chanhassen Villager included a story about regional park bench memorial programs, including one at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen. The city of Chanhassen also has a ...