All Ears Friendship Bench Program
Are you looking for someone to talk to? We are all ears!
Feeling overwhelmed? Let’s work through it together. Visit a Friendship Bench on campus.
The All Ears Friendship Bench Program provides ASU students with a listening ear—someone to connect and talk with. This program offers a welcoming space on campus where students can share their thoughts, feelings, and concerns with compassionate, trained volunteer listeners.
An initiative of ASU Chief Wellness Officer and Edson College Dean Judith Karshmer, the program was envisioned as a way to combat isolation and loneliness by fostering student connection and belonging.
Friendship benches are staffed by older adults who bring life experience, empathy, and understanding to every conversation. Whatever your challenge, they look forward to talking with you.
“I find it energizing, and I feel like I’m helping them,” said Volunteer Pencie Culiver, a resident of Mirabella at ASU, the high-rise retirement community on the Tempe campus. “One girl told me, ‘I’ve only been here 15 minutes, but I feel so much better.”
As our list of trained volunteers grows, students will have more opportunities to connect with them on campus. Right now, there is no set schedule but you can easily identify volunteers who are part of the program by their “I’m all ears” banners.
Additional Information
Contact Program Director Aaron Guest for additional information, including how to become a volunteer.
Resources
Support
The All Ears Friendship Bench Program is made possible thanks in part to support from the BHHS Legacy Foundation.
If you want to support the Friendship Bench Program you can donate here.