Living in social isolation is life threatening. For just a few minutes a week, become a Neighbor to someone who is isolated, gain a friend, and be changed yourself. Just a few minutes a week could help lift someone out of isolation.
The Isolation Epidemic is Real
Surveys of 88,000 patients from a healthcare system showed over 90% were identified as being at risk of social isolation. These patients were also found to have elevated rates of depression, substance abuse, and various chronic illnesses.
-Baylor University Case Study, 2023, Addressing Social Isolation and Other Social Determinants of Health, the MetroHealth – Open Table Collaboration.
Program Description
Research consistently shows that strong social connections have a significant impact on health and life outcomes. The Neighbor Model, based on twenty years of Open Table experience, connects trained community volunteers (“Neighbors”) with referred individuals (“Friends”) who are experiencing isolation that impacts their overall wellbeing. The relationship is one-to-one and takes place primarily through text messaging, creating a space for empathy, kindness, active listening, and encouragement. This steady, supportive connection helps ease feelings of isolation and fosters hope, emotional resilience, and the Friend’s growing belief that they can navigate challenges and improve their own life.
Volunteer Commitment
-3 hours of online training that you can complete on your
own schedule
-3 texts per week for six months
-Register online here: theopentable2.my.site.com/forms/s/interest-form
Please type the word “Neighbor” where the form asks for the name of your organization. The remaining organization fields can be left blank.
About Open Table: Communities focusing on complex challenges choose evidence-driven models that train volunteers to access the untapped power of relational and social capital within their personal, social, and business networks to develop new and effective resources and solutions.
