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Caring Contact

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Caring Contact

Caring Contact’s Listeners respond to calls to the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline and to our non-emergency support line, 908.232.2880.

We support, empathize, help you stay safe, and always keep our conversations confidential. Callers most commonly are experiencing loneliness, depression and desperation and seek consolation. Many callers are suddenly confronting a traumatic life crisis, such as the death of a loved one, a divorce or a job loss. Others deal with long-term depression or other mental illness, perhaps under a doctor’s

care but needing a supplemental source of comfort, a safety valve for their mental anguish. A growing number of callers are suicidal. We also offer crisis intervention via our new texting technology to enable our listeners to better connect with distressed younger people more comfortable with this means of communication.

05/28/2026

[LATEST NEWS] Caring Contact awarded $25,000 grant from the C. Northrop Pond and Alethea Marder Pond Foundation.

Caring Contact is proud to announce we have received a $25,000 grant from the C. Northrop Pond and Alethea Marder Pond Foundation to support our Mental Health Crisis Intervention & Support program.

The grant strengthens Caring Contact’s capacity to respond to callers experiencing emotional distress and mental health crisis through the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

This funding supports Caring Contact's longstanding mission to save lives by offering compassionate, nonjudgmental listening to people at their most vulnerable moments. As demand for crisis services continues to rise, the grant enables Caring Contact to expand staffing, reduce missed calls, and maintain the high quality of care callers depend on.

Upon receiving the grant, Caring Contact’s Executive Director, Mary Claire Givelber, said:

"For many people, making the call to 988 is a moment of courage. This grant helps ensure that when someone reaches out, a trained, caring person is there to answer. We are grateful to the Pond Foundation for this meaningful investment in lifesaving work."

The C. Northrop Pond and Alethea Marder Pond Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that strengthen communities and improve quality of life through thoughtful, targeted grantmaking.

Read the press release at: https://www.prlog.org/13146875-northrop-pond-and-alethea-marder-pond-foundation-award-25000-grant-to-caring-contact-for-mental.html

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05/26/2026

Thank you to everyone who participated in and supported Keller Williams Realty Westfield NJ’s RED Day 💚

On May 14, they turned KW’s national day of service, RED Day, into “Lettuce Saves Lives” — selling beautiful Living Lettuce Bowl Gardens to raise awareness and funds for Caring Contact’s caring and crisis lifeline during Westfield NJ - Downtown’s Girls Night Out.

We are so grateful to everyone who stopped by, purchased lettuce bowls, and helped raise funds in support of Caring Contact and the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

Thank you to all who volunteered, donated, and spent the day making a difference.

Helena Terens

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to remember and honor the bravery and sacrifice of all those who have served our country.

We also honor their families, friends, and fellow service members.

If you need someone to talk to, you are not alone. Support is available for Veterans, their families, and friends facing grief, loss, or trauma.

The 988 Lifeline is available anytime—call, text, or chat 988 to connect with a trained, caring counsellor.

You can also reach our Caring and Crisis Line at (908) 232-2880:
Weekdays 9am–10pm, Weekends 10am–6pm

We support and empathize, help you stay safe, and always keep our conversations confidential.

05/21/2026

[LATEST NEWS] Caring Contact is pleased to announce we have received a $3,000 grant from the Westfield Service League.

The Westfield Service League is a nonprofit organization rooted in more than 90 years of community service. Powered by dedicated volunteers, they operate the Westfield NJ Thrift & Consignment Shops to fund a longstanding grant program supporting nonprofit organizations across Westfield and Union County.

This year’s grant to Caring Contact will help fund paid 988 Lifeline Listeners during critical times, ensuring every call gets answered. We are grateful to the Westfield Service League for their generosity.

Caring Contact is an award-winning, volunteer-staffed caring and crisis hotline and listening community. We answer the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline for seven counties in New Jersey. Last year, we responded to over 27,000 calls.

[photo credit] Westfield Service League

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05/18/2026

You don’t have to be in crisis to reach out for support.

This , we want you to know: you don’t have to wait until things feel overwhelming to talk to someone.

Whether you’re dealing with stress, loneliness, or just need a listening ear, we’re here for you.

The 988 Lifeline is available anytime—call, text, or chat 988 to connect with a trained, caring counsellor.

You can also reach our Caring and Crisis Line at (908) 232-2880:

Weekdays 9am–10pm, Weekends 10am–6pm

We support and empathize, help you stay safe, and always keep our conversations confidential.

05/14/2026

Mental Health Awareness Month: What Reflective Listening Sounds Like

Good listening isn’t passive. One of the simplest tools Caring Contact Listeners use is helping someone name what they’re feeling—and reflecting it back clearly and kindly.

Reflective listening can sound like:

“It sounds like you’re anxious and exhausted.”
“I’m hearing a mix of sadness and resentment.”
“It sounds like you’re confused and frustrated.”

These responses aren’t advice or judgment. They’re a simple mirror that helps people recognize what’s already there.

“When someone hears their feelings named accurately, their voice changes,” says Michelle Habayeb, Director of Training at Caring Contact. “They slow down. They breathe. They’re not carrying it alone anymore.”

For many, it’s unfamiliar to speak openly without being interrupted, corrected, or told they’re overreacting. But being heard can help people reconnect with themselves before a hard moment becomes a crisis.

At Caring Contact, we’re here to make that kind of empathetic, nonjudgmental listening available every day—on 988 and on our warm line. When people can name what they feel and be met with respect, fewer reach the breaking point.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re highlighting how reflective listening supports emotional wellbeing—and how these skills can be learned and practiced in everyday life.

👉 Caring Contact now offers half-day reflective listening trainings for workplaces and community groups. Learn practical skills to support emotional wellbeing and respond with empathy when others need to be heard. Learn more at: https://caringcontact.org

05/13/2026

[LATEST NEWS] Caring Contact awarded $20,000 grant from Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center Community Advisory Board.

Caring Contact is delighted to announce we have received a $20,000 Community Health Grant from Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center Community Advisory Board to support our Dynamic Listener (DL) Program, a critical component of our 988 Crisis Care and Connection initiative.

This funding will support one paid Dynamic Listener, expanding Caring Contact’s capacity to answer calls to the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline, ensuring that individuals experiencing emotional distress receive timely, compassionate, and skilled support when they need it most.

Upon receiving the grant, Caring Contact’s Executive Director, Mary Claire Givelber, said:

“This grant is a powerful reflection of Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center’s commitment to community-based mental health care. With this support, we can continue to ensure that people in crisis are met with empathy, dignity, and skilled listening—sometimes at the very moment that helps them choose to stay safe and move forward.”

Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center Community Advisory Board awarded grants to 19 recipient organizations during the Spring 2026 cycle, supporting initiatives that address priority community health needs across the region.

“We are honored to help support the Dynamic Listener (DL) Program,” said Frank Macioce, Chair of the Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center Community Advisory Board. “By working together with organizations like Caring Contact, we can make a true impact for the better in the lives of our community members.”

Read the press release at: https://www.prlog.org/13144148

[In the photo L-R]
• Tim Hicks, Chief Operating Officer, Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center
• Angelica Cardenas Galindo, Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center
• Mary Claire Givelber, Executive Director, Caring Contact
• Lee Zuber, Board Member, Caring Contact

Atlantic Health
Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center

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05/11/2026

Caring Contact is in your corner, and this week Keller Williams Realty Premier Properties of Westfield is in ours. 💚

On Thursday, May 14, they are turning KW’s national day of service RED DAY, into “Lettuce Saves Lives” — selling beautiful Living Lettuce Bowl Gardens to raise awareness and funds for Caring Contact’s caring and crisis lifeline during Downtown Westfield’s Girls Night Out.

Caring Contact is an award-winning, volunteer-staffed caring and crisis hotline and listening community. We provide active listening support and best-in-class education to the Central and Northern New Jersey community. Caring Contact is devoted to promoting emotional wellbeing and preventing emotional crises by providing opportunities for people to express themselves to compassionate listeners in a safe environment.

Living Lettuce Bowl Gardens will be available for purchase at Keller Williams (1 Elm Street) on Thursday, May 14, from 2 pm–6 pm to support Caring Contact’s life-saving services. Kick off your Girls Night Out by picking up your compact garden(s) and enjoying refreshments, including KW’s famous Kellertini.

Thank you, Keller Williams Realty Westfield NJ, and everyone who chooses to “lettuce save lives” with us. 🌱

Westfield NJ - Downtown

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day 💐

On this day dedicated to mothers, we recognize it can also be challenging for some.

If today feels difficult, the 988 Lifeline is here for you, 24/7. Anyone can call or text 988, or chat at 988Lifeline.org to be connected with a trained, caring counselor.

You can also call our Caring and Crisis Line at (908) 232-2880 during the following hours:
Weekdays 9 am-10 pm, Weekends 10 am-6 pm

We support and empathize with you, help you stay safe, and always keep our conversations confidential.

05/07/2026

Mental Health Awareness Month: Listening is Prevention

What happens when people are heard before a crisis?

In 2025, Caring Contact answered over 25,700 calls—the highest in our 50-year history. Even more striking is that call volume has already increased by 91% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to last year.

Many of these calls aren’t emergencies. They’re from people reaching out earlier—before things escalate—because they need someone to listen.

“As a crisis 988 hotline and listening community, we hear every day from people who are carrying more than they can easily put into words. Many callers aren't in immediate danger. Something just feels heavy, tangled, or unsettled,” says Mary Claire Givelber, Caring Contact Executive Director.

Too often, people have learned to suppress their feelings, stay productive, and handle things alone. But unspoken emotions don’t disappear—they manifest as stress, burnout, and disconnection.

That's where Caring Contact comes in. Trained Listeners answer calls through the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline and Caring Contact's own crisis line, so people can talk things through before reaching a breaking point. Callers may be lonely, grieving, overwhelmed, burned out, or simply wondering why everything feels harder than it used to.

Empathetic, nonjudgmental listening can change that trajectory. Specific reflective listening skills can influence what happens next, creating space for people to be heard, to name what they’re feeling, and to feel less alone before reaching a crisis point.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re highlighting how listening is prevention—and how reflective listening skills can be learned and practiced at your workplace.

👉 Caring Contact offers reflective listening training for workplaces and community groups. Learn simple, practical ways to care for your own emotional wellbeing—and to confidently support others when they need it most. Find out more at: https://caringcontact.org

05/04/2026

May is Mental Health Month.

This year’s theme—More Good Days, Together—encourages us all to reflect on what a “good” day looks like, both for ourselves, and for our communities.

Good days look different for everyone. A good day might be calm, manageable, or something else. Only you can define what a good day looks like to you.

If having good days feels hard, know that help is available and that you are not alone.

If you, or someone you know, is struggling or in crisis, the 988 Lifeline is here for you, 24/7.

Call or text 988 or chat at 988Lifeline.org, to be connected with a trained, caring counsellor.

Or call our Caring and Crisis Line (908) 232-2880 during the following hours:
Weekdays 9am-10pm, Weekends 10am-6pm

We support and empathize, help you stay safe, and always keep our conversations confidential.

Mental Health America

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Westfield, NJ
07091

Opening Hours

Monday	7am - 11pm
Tuesday	7am - 11pm
Wednesday	7am - 11pm
Thursday	7am - 11pm
Friday	7am - 11pm
Saturday	7am - 11pm
Sunday	7am - 11pm

Website

http://caringcontact.org/

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