Even though it has been six years since COVID-19 rocked our world, its effects are still being felt today, especially when it comes to social isolation and loneliness. While cases of loneliness and disconnection have risen since 2020, organizations across the country are working to battle these challenges and provide support to those who need it most.
Enter CONTACT Cape Atlantic, a nonprofit that has been quietly making a difference in our community for over five decades. Originally founded in June 1973 as Contact Atlantic, the organization began as a 24-hour crisis intervention hotline, offering guidance and a listening ear to anyone in need. As part of CONTACT USA, it served as a vital resource for individuals struggling socially or emotionally, ensuring that no one had to face hardship alone.
Now, more than 50 years later, CONTACT Cape Atlantic has expanded its reach and impact, currently serving around 250 clients. As a reassurance program designed to support older adults, individuals with disabilities, and anyone experiencing loneliness or isolation, trained volunteers make regular phone calls to clients, sometimes daily or weekly, depending on each person’s needs.
The process is designed to be simple and accessible. Clients can be referred through social workers, hospitals, neighbors, or even sign up themselves. “We make it easy for anyone to get help,” said program coordinator, Fatan Dib. “No matter how someone comes to us, we don’t turn anyone away.”
While the organization receives grant funding from Atlantic and Cumberland counties, its services extend beyond county lines to anyone who needs a listening ear. Dibs shared that anyone at any time can recommend or request that these call services be given to anyone who needs it.
Volunteers are the heart of this whole operation, with about 100 active volunteers who run the calls daily. The beauty for these volunteers is that they can take calls on their own schedule and from the comfort of their homes.
After completing training, volunteers are paired with consistent clients they will talk to each time, in order to build meaningful connections over time. For many, the experience is just as impactful for the caller as it is for the person receiving the call.
One volunteer even calls Dibs daily, asking for more people to reach out to. “He thanks me every time I give him more calls,” Dibs shared. “He says it’s therapeutic for him; he just loves helping others.” In this way, the program not only supports those who feel isolated, but also provides a sense of purpose and connection for the volunteers themselves. The reassurance calls typically begin around 8:30 a.m., and the last calls wrap up in the late afternoon around 4 p.m.
At its core, CONTACT Cape Atlantic is about community. “This is where we live,” Dibs said. “We want to make sure everyone here is taken care of.”
Natalia Serejko, new Executive Director, noted that despite advances in technology, people have become more disconnected than ever, especially in the wake of the pandemic. “That’s why this service is so important,” she said. “We’re here for anyone who needs a voice on the other end of the line.”
The service is completely free, funded through donations, fundraisers, and grants, ensuring the removal of any barriers to access for those who may need it.
Looking ahead, the organization hopes to continue expanding its reach. “Our goal is to serve everyone who wants a call,” Serejko said. “We want to make sure no one feels alone and we can cover every call in our area and then beyond our region as well.”
In addition to the reassurance phone call services, CONTACT Cape Atlantic also has another program called Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS). The program provides consistent check-ins with Atlantic County residents who use fall-detection pendants in order to ensure those units are working properly and our neighbors stay safe.
Serejko shared that the organization is actively looking to grow its community. Anyone interested in their call services can sign up by filling out the form found at their website, contactcapeatlantic.org, or by calling directly at 609-823-2109. In addition, the organization is also looking for people who can contribute a few hours a week at a consistent day and time to field the calls. Interested folks can call 609-823-2109.
For over 50 years, CONTACT Cape Atlantic has proven that sometimes, the simple gesture of a phone call can make the biggest difference.
Delaney Crawford is a dynamic entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling and digital marketing. Driven by a desire to empower local businesses, Delaney founded DLC Media, a company dedicated to helping businesses enhance their brand image and thrive online.
