Miracle Messages

I've only been volunteering with Miracle Messages for a couple months now, but my experience has been nothing but positive so far! I appreciated that they sent me a survey to learn more about me so that they could match me with a miracle friend with whom I have a lot in common as opposed to just anyone. Although at times it's been difficult reaching my miracle friend, the Miracle Messages team has been with me every step of the way, responding to all of my call logs and answering any questions I've had with both compassion and knowledge. My miracle friend has also told me the positive effects she's already seen in her life of having someone to talk to--and I must re-emphasize here that we've only been matched for *maybe* a couple of months now. Miracle Messages also had a number of helpful workshop videos that I could watch to help strengthen skills I'd need as a volunteer friend. I highly recommend the Miracle Messages program to any interested person!

I am three months into a phone buddy relationship with my friend who is experiencing housing insecurity. I have been amazed at the things we have in common, and the resiliency of my friend who has a huge amount of obstacles. We end up texting and calling more than 1x/week, and I'll send him notes when I see something that reminds me of him, or will encourage him. I am not sure who is getting more from this relationship, my friend or me. My phone buddy is starting to turn his life around and I see his growing confidence in getting control over his life. Miracle Messages drives to the heart of what makes a community work - knowing our neighbors and connecting with them. I highly recommend this non-profit.

I started volunteering with Miracle Messages on their phone buddy program. It’s been an eye-opening experience to befriend people experiencing homelessness or facing another difficult period of their life

I came across the Miracle Messages program when researching remote volunteer opportunities. I am part of the Phone Buddy service, and I find it to be a wonderful way to reach out to those experiencing housing insecurity, so as to provide them friendship. Another part of the program is a community group where the volunteers share advice and resources that can be used by different volunteers for aid with their assigned buddy, but also others who might need help. Overall, I find this to be a great program that is akin to social work.

I volunteer with this organization and the work they do is so important. I volunteer with the Phone Buddies program, and through this, I have become aware of the effects of homelessness through an entirely new lens. What I never realized, and I assume most people also, is that even when someone can find stability the trauma of homelessness will always follow them in ways I could have never imagined. Miracle Messages provides resources, like emergency funds and links to helpful resources in the area, to our buddies and allows them to stay in a stable situation they are happy in. I am so happy I can volunteer for such an incredible program.

I have been a volunteer with Miracle messages for almost a year. I read about it in Nice News and thought it would be a great way to be of service to someone who might be struggling.
I went through the orientation and got matched with the perfect person for me! We have communicated by phone once a week on average. It has been rewarding for me to support someone emotionally who is going through some tough challenges. We talk and laugh and brighten each other's lives. We have become friends in every sense of the word, which has enriched both of us.
All I can say is this is a brilliant use of your time and energy!

I've been associated with Miracle Messages for about 6 months now and have had a couple unhoused friends through the network. Both of my friends have been amazing and I have learned so much from their experiences. Miracle Messages has been incredibly consistent with their follow up and support throughout my time and they genuinely care about what they're doing.

This is the best volunteer job I have ever had, especially since it has become not a "job" at all. I have been connected with my friend for over two years and we are true friends. We talk for an hour every week and we have been together supporting each other through many ups and downs. Her laugh and resilience inspire me every time we speak, and I am so thankful she came into my life.

I've been donating to Miracle Messages for more than five years. Since I first found it, I've continued to be consistently impressed with their thoughtful, hands-on approach to helping people find dignity and humanity in a space where individuals often become little more than numbers in a system. MM staff take their motto seriously: everyone is someone's somebody. Every staffer I've talked to has been responsive, helpful, and deeply caring about the work they do.

I started volunteering last year, and have been connected with the same Miracle Friend the whole time. He's a smart, excitable guy, with relationship issues and hobbies he'd like to get back to. He talks to me about how lonely he is though, and I feel so lucky to be able to be a friendly ear for him to have.

Miracle Messages is a phenomenal organization doing the essential, overlooked work of making people feel remembered and cared about. I can't recommend them highly enough!

I got involved with Miracle Friends in June 2020 as it was becoming clear to me that to help people during the pandemic, I would need to find a different kind of volunteer organization. I found Miracle Friends through an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, signed up through the website, and made my first call to Nathaniel the next week. It's been an incredible experience for me ever since. As he will tell you himself, Nathaniel has become my brother, not just my Miracle Friend.

Nathaniel grew up in Hunters Point / Bayview watching the San Francisco Giants from outside the fence. His father was out of his life at a young age after being stationed in Europe after the war. Nathaniel’s life forever changed the day his younger brother died in a community pool accident. After that extreme trauma, Nathaniel said he fell into a pattern of getting into trouble, which led to him serving prison time and living in shelters or on the street for most of his life.

Nathaniel is very kind and caring. He has always wanted to go speak to the supervisors at a council meeting, and when I asked him what he would talk about there he said “the kids on the street! We need to get these poor kids off the street!” Nathaniel is also very wise. When my father was dying (just after I had met Nathaniel), he encouraged me to go down to LA to visit on a regular basis. He intuitively knew how important it would be for me to visit him at the end of his life. Nathaniel is also extremely smart and connected to the world. We were talking about his voting in the recent election and when I mentioned that someone in my wife’s family had been involved in politics, he said he knew the person and had even read the book they had written on granting clemency to death row inmates. Nathaniel has a very bright spirit and a very quick wit. He has been trying to find a job since I met him, but it’s been difficult especially with the pandemic and then his ongoing disabilities. When I asked him if he considered himself a hard worker, he quickly retorted “yes I am a hard worker, but right now I’m hardly working!” Nathaniel is also very grateful. When asked about our relationship, he will tell you “Bruce? Bruce is my brother. The first time I met him, he put shoes on my feet.”

These and a hundred other similar interactions with Nathaniel have brought me much joy. I want to thank everyone involved in Miracle Friends for making at least two lives incredibly richer. I have truly enjoyed building a relationship with my friend, my brother, Nathaniel.

I have the best phone buddy ever! She is bright, knowledgeable on current events and music. She's had some rough places in her life but she doesn't let it get her down. She's a good friend.
We can comfortably talk about anything and she's pretty open about her situation now and her past.
I'm thankful to have her in my life.

I'm a volunteer, matched up an Army veteran with whom I've built a strong friendship. I can feel how much it means to him to have someone to just talk to. I know it makes a difference and makes his day better when we speak. He is very appreciative of the connection and is always grateful for my friendship (which means he is really grateful for the work that Miracle Messages and all the volunteers do).

This is a great organization that helps and supports the homeless. It is an organization that uplifts the human spirit and helps foster human connection. Bravo to their efforts and it is my hope that other branches will arise all around the country.

For my volunteering this year I wanted to really see the impact I was making, and given how I have seen more and more unhoused people in recent years, Miracle Messages was the perfect fit.

I really love that I get to make a difference for a person with whom I can build a relationship over time.

This has been such a great volunteer experience! As a traveling nomad, I am never in one place for too long, so it's hard to give back to the community when I know I can't commit long term. When I found Miracle Messages, I knew it would be a perfect fit for me and my lifestyle! I have enjoyed the relationship I have made with my Miracle Friend through our phone calls. It's so great that I can make an impact on someone's life when I'm thousands of miles away from them!

If you want to be able to give back in a way that is truly impactful, volunteer and donate with Miracle Friends. They make real world change one person at a time. I have seen, first hand, the difference my calls make in the life of my miracle friend.

Absolutely incredible. I am so happy that I found Miracle Messages. They impact some of the most vulnerable members of society in ways you can’t imagine. Love these guys!

This is a wonderful nonprofit. Such a simple idea, to call someone on a weekly basis so they have human contact and feel part of a community...it is something anyone can do and the reward that comes to me as a phone buddy is amazing. I feel like I can make a difference to someone who simply needs compassion and a listening ear. Miracle Messages is there for both the volunteer and the unhoused and it is nice to have that extra layer of support. Thanks Miracle Messages for giving me the opportunity to do my part.

In a situation that seems hopeless and too big to comprehend, Miracle Messages has allowed me to take this one person in need by the hand and connect her to my heart. I have learned acceptance and compassion, the value of listening, and sometimes offering advice. But most importantly, I have the privilege of being part of this person's life - 3 years now - as she has come so far from when we first met. There have been ups and downs, for sure, but the downs are not as low now and the "ups" are more frequent. I can't help all the homeless/rehoused people in the world but I feel good we can do it one person at a time through this program.

Being a volunteer at Miracle Messages is a great satisfaction not only for those who most need our help and comfort, but also for the enormous wealth of learning and personal growth provided to ourselves, volunteers in this beautiful project. Having the opportunity to be a ray of light for those who need it most is very rewarding. Causing a smile and providing a welcoming moment for those who expect a little love is a gesture of love not only for others, but also for oneself. It is a special moment where we put another brick in the great mission that is, inevitably, in the hands of all of us: transforming the world into a better place. Thank you, Miracle Messages, for providing this beautiful life experience.

Wonderful individuals working here, and a fantastic way to give back to community members experiencing homelessness. I've had a few friends through this organization over the last several years, and it's been a great experience learning about each one and becoming a friend to them.

I learned about Miracle Messages a few months ago, and because of the good work I heard they were doing, and my need to better understand homelessness, I decided to volunteer. I was quickly matched with a client and started weekly calls with her. It has been an incredible experience, giving me new understanding and compassion for the issues faced by those without homes. My heart and mind have expanded because of the conversations with my Miracle Messages friend; our paths may be different but we are alike in the ways that count. If we want to change the world and solve difficult societal issues, it will be through this type of personal, one-to-one contact.

I have been very impressed with how Miracle Messages is managed. When I have questions or need help, I get an immediate response from their staff. They are encouraging and supportive, providing effective guidance and strong training.

Look no further than Miracle Messages if you are looking for a positive volunteer experience with a highly effective nonprofit.

I have had a fantastic experience volunteering with and donating to Miracle Messages. As a volunteer, I get to make a tangible difference to a friend in need from my own home and on my schedule. When I made a donation I felt confident the funds were directly supporting an unhoused person reunite with family or fund an urgent need.

I love volunteering as a Miracle Friend, being a phone friend to a person experiencing homelessness. He and I have been friends for one year and we still speak weekly. I have learned so much about the homeless experience, and my friend has said he's gained more than he can put into words from our friendship. We need to build bridges to and demolish preconceptions of our homeless neighbors, and Miracle Friends is the gentlest and most authentic way to do so.

I read about Miracle Messages on the good news network and was so excited to find a way to give back from anywhere! I attended the intro session and everything was explained. That week I was assigned my Miracle Friend and it has been so great getting to know them and helping provide suggestions and feedback on their journey. I highly suggest getting involved with Miracle Messages to directly connect to someone you can truly make an impact on their life by letting them know others care about them. I am so glad I found this organization and will be involved with them as long as there is a need!

Miracle messages is an awesome not for profit. I am a volunteer working with my friend who has been homeless for a while the organization does great work helping people get back into society. Who knew that talking with a stranger can help them turn their life around.

This is an amazing nonprofit helping unhoused people connect to volunteers to build up a support system with weekly phone calls. And providing services to reunite unhoused people with their families. The stories of the people they have helped are inspiring and I'm glad to be a part of this organization.

I started volunteering 4 years ago and was able to reconnect a family - and I was hooked! I have also been a Miracle Friend - chatting with someone who was living in a hotel - and she told me I gave her back her voice!! Such a beautiful mission and organization!

Miracle Messages is a truly amazing and effective non-profit that helps the homeless community rebuild their social support systems and get into stable housing. They have a whole team of volunteers all over the world that do things like help people locate long lost family members or do weekly check-in’s with people living on the street. Miracle Messages even provides members of the homeless community with a basic monthly income or emergency funds.