Volunteer
Help Us Make a Difference
Volunteer for Hospice of The Gorge
Volunteers are an incredibly important part of who we are, what we do, and how we help people in need. Hospice of The Gorge could not do what we do without the assistance of the thousands of hours of volunteer help we are so privileged to receive.
Hospice of The Gorge volunteers live in communities throughout our eight county service area, and help out in a variety of ways.
Some of our volunteers work directly with patients and their families; some work in our offices; some help us with fundraising ... and ... well, the sky's the limit in terms of the kind of help we can use and the kind of help you can offer.
Volunteers Who Work with Patients
Hospice volunteers who work with patients help out in a number of ways. They might:
- Read to patients or listen to music together
- Work with patients on crossword puzzles, Sodoku, or puzzles of any kind
- Watch old movies together
- Fill up the bird feeders
- Walk with patients in the garden
- Walk the dogs
- Help out with household chores
Essentially, patient volunteers help out by spending quality time with patients, and by doing things around the house that can help the family.
Volunteers who work directly with patients must complete our comprehensive training program. It's geared toward preparing you to help patients and families in their homes with their non-medical needs.
For more information on what it's like to work with a patient, please click here for an interview with a Hospice of The Gorge volunteer who eventually became a hospice patient.
Volunteers Who Work in Other Ways
Many of our volunteers prefer to help in other ways ... ways that better meet their own personal interests and goals in life. Whatever your passion, think about how it might be put to use as a hospice volunteer.
Here are some of the ways hospice volunteers help:
- Helping with our newsletter and other types of mailings
- Providing clerical support
- Supporting our public relations and community outreach efforts
- Fundraising
- Website maintenance
- Answering phones when staff are sick or on vacation
- Shoveling snow off of the driveway
- Helping out with the bookkeeping
The list goes on. If you can think of it, it's probably something that needs to be done. We welcome your energy, your thoughts, your creativity ... whatever it is you have to offer, we're sure you can put it to good use as a hospice volunteer!
You Set Your Own Schedule
Regardless of what type of volunteer you want to be, we try to accommodate, as much as possible, your scheduling needs. You may choose to work with us frequently, or intermittently as their schedule permits ... or as your particular talents are needed.
As a volunteer, you determine your availability and schedule, and we do whatever we can to work around your personal needs.
Who to Contact
Getting involved is easy. All you need to do is call our volunteer coordinator at 541-387-6449, or email her at cjones@hospiceofthegorge.org. We are happy to discuss the options with you.
Don't hesitate. Call now.
