HOME > SURVIVORSHIP > VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
If you are looking for opportunities to give back to your fellow breast cancer community and mentor a newly diagnosed young adult, please consider volunteering with the SoulMates or One-to-One Programs.
SoulMates is a long-term peer support program specifically for breast cancer patients (stages 0-III) at Dana-Farber. This program connects breast cancer patients to SoulMates peer mentors who have been through a similar journey.
SoulMates peer mentors are trained in topics such as listening, problem solving, and confidentiality. They offer emotional support, practical coping tips, and more. You can serve as a guide for patients and connect them to useful Dana-Farber programs and community resources. As a SoulMates peer mentor, you can help to relieve fears and concerns specific to a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment because you understand what it’s like to face cancer.
SoulMates also hosts monthly community dinner meetings for peers and mentors to meet each other and hear from health care professional speakers around the greater Boston community.
Volunteer mentors must be out of active treatment for at least two years. If you are interested in becoming a SoulMates peer mentor, contact SoulMates at 617-237-0498 or email the Young and Strong Program team.
SoulMates peer mentors are trained in topics such as listening, problem solving, and confidentiality. They offer emotional support, practical coping tips, and more. You can serve as a guide for patients and connect them to useful Dana-Farber programs and community resources. As a SoulMates peer mentor, you can help to relieve fears and concerns specific to a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment because you understand what it’s like to face cancer.
SoulMates also hosts monthly community dinner meetings for peers and mentors to meet each other and hear from health care professional speakers around the greater Boston community.
Volunteer mentors must be out of active treatment for at least two years. If you are interested in becoming a SoulMates peer mentor, contact SoulMates at 617-237-0498 or email the Young and Strong Program team.
One-to-One is a free telephone mentorship program for patients and caregivers at Dana-Farber. This program is designed to be a short-term resource, providing patients or caregivers with support with a volunteer peer mentor over the course of a few phone calls.
Peer mentors are trained volunteers who have “been there” and can be great sources of support and comfort. When matched with a patient who has gone through a similar breast cancer diagnosis and treatment experience as you, you can provide guidance and:
Peer mentors are trained volunteers who have “been there” and can be great sources of support and comfort. When matched with a patient who has gone through a similar breast cancer diagnosis and treatment experience as you, you can provide guidance and:
- Discuss symptoms the patients has experienced
- Talk about what to expect from surgery or chemotherapy
- Identify supportive resources
- Talk about any issues that a young breast cancer patient may deal with
- Address issues the patient may face caring for their loved ones
- Discuss issues unique to survivorship
- Guide the patient in talking with their child about a diagnosis
- Discuss workplace issues- e.g., telling the patient’s boss
To volunteer as a One-to-One Mentor, please fill out the Volunteer Application and scroll down to the One-to-One Program. To become a mentor, the One-to-One Program asks that you be at least one year out of initial diagnosis before applying.
Onboarding steps include:
Onboarding steps include:
- Interview
- Occupational Health screening
- Training
- Attendance at quarterly volunteer meetings
