Volunteer Opportunities

Our volunteers are an integral part of the success of Regional Hospice.  They play an important role in the care and support of our patients and their families as well as helping in many administrative and operational areas.  

 

Types of Volunteering

  • Family Support Volunteers play a key role in providing care and support to patients and their loved ones. Support may be in the form of companionship; shopping and errand services; respite and relief for families and caregivers. They develop special relationships with patients and their loved ones; therefore, a commitment to regular patient visits in order to provide consistent care is required.  Opportunities exist in our Center for Comfort Care & Healing, in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and in patient homes.  Specialized training is provided by Regional Hospice.
  • Lobby Greeters sit at the front desk at the Center for Comfort Care & Healing and are the first faces seen by patients and visitors. They act as our concierge by directing visitors to patient and/or support group rooms as well as providing basic information regarding visiting hours, phone numbers, directions, amenities at the Center. A minimum of two shifts each month is requested.
  • Administrative Support Volunteers work with our staff to accomplish daily tasks associated with the effective and efficient operation and management of Regional Hospice. Assignments may include clerical assistance, preparing mailings, typing, filing, organizational tasks, community outreach and fundraising activities.  Schedules are flexible depending on the assignment.
  • Other volunteer opportunities:
    • Veteran to Veteran Support
    • Spiritual Support
    • Hairstylists (current license required)
    • Garden Volunteers
    • Pet Partners (current certification required)
    • Fund Raising at Chapter Events
    • Bereavement Group Facilitators (training required and provided by Regional Hospice)
    • Musicians/singers
    • Kitchen Volunteers
    • Floral Arrangement Volunteers 
  • Youth Volunteer the Regional Hospice Youth Project (RHYP) offers many opportunities for students in grades 7-12 to serve as volunteers at Regional Hospice.  Students of any age can participate in fundraising activities and help promote education as to what hospice is.  Students 16 years of age and older can work with patients and their families at the Center, in a nursing home or skilled nursing facility, act as a Lobby Greeter in the Center or help in other areas.

    Our major RHYP fund raising activity is our annual Color Fest.  Our youth volunteers form teams and raise money by completing a fun run at Tarrywile Park in Danbury. 

Requirements to volunteer for Regional Hospice:

  • Complete an on-line application here.
  • Complete an interview.
  • Attend 15 hours of in-person training.
  • Complete a background check and TB test
  • Complete annual compliance training every October
  • Volunteers required to drive (i.e., Family Support Volunteers in the community) must provide a copy of current driver’s license, proof of auto insurance and authorization for a DMV driving record check.

Benefits to volunteers:

  • Monthly volunteer meetings
  • “News & Notes,” our weekly volunteer newsletter
  • Monthly volunteer support groups
  • Prayer & sound healing
  • Book club
  • Annual volunteer appreciation breakfast
  • Holiday celebration
  • Supplemental training

Our volunteers bring with them a wide variety of skills and experiences:

  • reliability
  • flexibility
  • empathy
  • kindness
  • team work
  • desire to make a difference     

We offer our volunteers a wide variety of opportunities to best utilize their interests and skills such as:

  • Family Support Volunteers play a key role in providing care and support to patients and their loved ones. Support may be in the form of companionship; shopping and errand services; respite and relief for families and caregivers. They develop special relationships with patients and their loved ones; therefore, a commitment to regular patient visits in order to provide consistent care is required.  Opportunities exist in our Center for Comfort Care & Healing, in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and in patient homes.  Specialized training is provided by Regional Hospice.
  • Lobby Greeters sit at the front desk at the Center for Comfort Care & Healing and are the first faces seen by patients and visitors. They act as our concierge by directing visitors to patient and/or support group rooms as well as providing basic information regarding visiting hours, phone numbers, directions, amenities at the Center. A minimum of two shifts each month is requested.
  • Administrative Support Volunteers work with our staff to accomplish daily tasks associated with the effective and efficient operation and management of Regional Hospice. Assignments may include clerical assistance, preparing mailings, typing, filing, organizational tasks, community outreach and fundraising activities.  Schedules are flexible depending on the assignment.
  • Other volunteer opportunities:
    • Veteran to Veteran Support
    • Spiritual Support
    • Hairstylists (current license required)
    • Garden Volunteers
    • Pet Partners (current certification required)
    • Fund Raising at Chapter Events
    • Bereavement Group Facilitators (training required and provided by Regional Hospice)
    • Musicians/singers
    • Kitchen Volunteers
    • Floral Arrangement Volunteers 

Youth Volunteers

The Regional Hospice Youth Project (RHYP) offers many opportunities for students in grades 7-12 to serve as volunteers at Regional Hospice.  Students of any age can participate in fundraising activities and help promote education as to what hospice is.  Students 16 years of age and older can work with patients and their families at the Center, in a nursing home or skilled nursing facility, act as a Lobby Greeter in the Center or help in other areas.

 

Our major RHYP fund raising activity is our annual Color Fest.  Our youth volunteers form teams and raise money by completing a fun run at Tarrywile Park in Danbury. 

 

Volunteer Stories

We invite you to meet some of our volunteers who give so freely of their time to help us accomplish our mission.  We are beyond grateful for each one of them. 

  • Dan & Lindie Bacon
  • Ellen Raspitha
  • Christie Blom
  • John Hoffman
  • Karen Boutross
  • Gary Boulet
  • Ginny Strauch
  • Francine Robb 
  • Gina Cipri

We say it all the time and we really mean it – our volunteers and staff are the heart of Regional Hospice.  Our “Heart of Hospice” program recognizes and honors both volunteers and staff for the difference they make in the lives of our patients, their loved ones and our organization.  They are featured on our social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and X – formerly known as Twitter) as well as in our weekly volunteer newsletter, bi-weekly staff newsletter and quarterly donor newsletter. 

Here are some volunteers who are the “Heart of Hospice” 

photo1

I am Adeethyia Shankar, a first-year student at Brown University, and I have been a Volunteer at Regional Hospice for six months as a Center family support volunteer and lobby greeter.  I was drawn to Regional Hospice because when my grandfather was sick in India, I remember seeing so many people helping him and making him feel comfortable. It meant a lot to me, and I wanted to do the same.  Also, I love the opportunity to provide for people experiencing the final portion of their lives.  It is rewarding to deliver food trays to them and their families, answer patient calls or even just hold their hand.  Every day, I try to learn one new thing, and I remember my gratitude for the mentors who have guided me in life, whether in academics or even my personal wellness. I also try to give back to the community by being a mentor to younger kids and serving our elders, such as in hospice.

photo2

My name is Rochelle Albini and I started at Regional Hospice 4 months ago as a community family support volunteer.  I was drawn to Regional Hospice because of the staff and support I found there.  I have been a hospice volunteer for almost 20 years in different places I have lived.  I love my job because I believe the end of life should be honored.  I enjoy giving love and support so that people feel seen and heard at this time of their lives. I now see that it is a “calling” which I am grateful to do.  Focusing on what I’m grateful for each day makes every day the best. This is an especially good time in my life so it’s easier to do!  Thanks for the opportunity to do these things.  And for being a part of Regional Hospice. 

My name is Grace Jeffries and I’ve been a Family Support Volunteer and Lobby Greeter for Regional Hospice since the summer of 2021. After volunteering in an inpatient hospice unit in Pennsylvania during undergrad, I was excited to continue to foster a safe and trustworthy environment for patients at Regional Hospice. Volunteering for Regional Hospice has been an invaluable experience and has allowed me to become a familiar face and source of encouragement for patients and their families during a vulnerable time in their lives. I’ve especially enjoyed collaborating with other volunteers and staff to learn new skills and continue to strive to provide the highest quality care for patients.  Making the best of every day means maintaining a positive attitude and the desire to be a source of joy for others. Each individual at Regional Hospice exemplifies these goals.