A friendship shaped by family, care,
and shared experience.

Barbara’s Buddies provides opportunities for our volunteers and older adults to develop meaningful, reciprocal relationships by pairing individuals based on shared interests/experiences. As people age, it is not uncommon to experience a loss of confidence due to retirement, health changes and/or reduced social networks, which can cause a feeling of diminished value. Our emphasis on making “buddy matches” will provide opportunities for older adults to share their knowledge and talents while also gaining companionship and receiving a helping hand.

Creating strong matches is a powerful way to build relationships that feel natural and genuine. When our volunteers and older adults are paired based on shared interests—which could vary widely to include music, gardening, storytelling, travel, languages or simply a similar sense of humor—the connection forms more quickly and with far more ease. These common threads allow for scheduled visits to become worthwhile companionship rather than a service interaction. Sharing skills and interests, as well as being recognized as capable and knowledgeable, reinforces dignity and self-esteem and that is our goal for our older adults and volunteers alike. At Barbara’s Buddies, thoughtful matching isn’t just a logistical step, it’s the foundation of lasting, human-centered support.

Karen and Debby are longtime friends and both have mothers named Barbara, so naming the organization was easy. Both Barbaras instilled a sense of giving back and community in their daughters. Karen and Debby strive to carry that legacy forward in a way that feels both personal and purposeful by offering older adults companionship, a sense of purpose and connection.

Professionally, Debby and Karen are both attorneys. Debby is the founder and senior partner at Cochran Law Group, a law firm in Tysons, Virginia, assisting individuals, families and business owners with estate and tax planning needs. Karen recently retired as Senior Counsel in the Legal Division at the Federal Reserve Board.