Hospice Friends Ellensburg: VOLUNTEER

“Our most important legacy will be the contributions we make to the lives of other human beings.”

~ Thomas Kincade

Volunteers are the heart and soul of Hospice Friends, without them the organization would not exist. Based upon one’s time commitment, skills, and preferences, there are variety of opportunities to volunteer. Below are some of the options available. If you, or someone you know, is interested in volunteering, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Patient Care

Patient care volunteers work directly with Hospice Friends’ patients and their families. After completing sixteen hours of in-class training you would be able to do any of the following activities:

In-Home Patient Care: Provide respite for caregivers, companionship for the patient, meal preparation, and/or light housecleaning. Volunteers are not asked to do personal care or serve more than 2-4 hours per week.
Transportation: Provide rides for patients to medical appointment locally and to Yakima and/or Seattle.
Vigil: Sit with someone during the last hours of their life so that they do not have to die alone.
Comfort Therapies: Provide music therapy, massage, reflexology, aroma therapy, or other comfort therapies to patients and/or their caregivers.
Bereavement Support : Provide support and comfort for individuals grieving the loss of a loved one.

Staff Support

Volunteers are needed to support the day-to-day operation of Hospice Friends. Volunteers are not required to take any training, but are asked to fill out an application and consent to a background check. As a staff support volunteer you could do any of the following activities:

Clerical Support: Assist Hospice Friends staff with processing donations, photocopying, data entry, record keeping, mailings, etc.
Special Events: Help out with fundraisers and special events like Tree of Love and our annual Cruisin’ for Hospice Car Show.
Professional Support : Help out in an area where you have a specific skill; e.g. grant writing, technology support, publicity, photography, writing, graphic design, etc

Board of Directors

Hospice Friends is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Board Members provide oversight for the organization and are actively involved in supporting the mission of Hospice Friends.

(Photo courtesy of David Dick)