Volunteer
Volunteers make a significant difference in the lives of Hospice Patients, and are an important part of the hospice care team.
Change a Life
Hospice volunteers possess very special qualities. They come from various backgrounds but they all have a desire to serve their community by providing support to people, and their families, who are facing the final stages of life. Volunteers are very important members of the Hospice Care Team.
Becoming a volunteer for Whatcom Hospice is a big commitment. Whether you’re caring for an individual during the final stages of their lives, sewing a blanket for one of the Hospice House rooms or assisting with filing, you can make a significant difference in the life of someone facing a terminal illness.
Current Volunteer Positions
There are three volunteer opportunities available at Whatcom Hospice.
Indirect Care Volunteer
Indirect Care Volunteers do not have one-on-one contact with patients or their families. Rather, they assist Whatcom Hospice in a variety of ways, such as office help, deliveries, landscaping, sewing, home maintenance, etc. Training for an Indirect Care Volunteer is four-hours.
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Caregiver Volunteer
A Caregiver Volunteer is a Respite Care Volunteer. These individuals have direct contact with patients and families in a variety of settings, including a patient’s home, nursing home, adult family home or Hospice House. They generally do the kinds of things a good friend or neighbor might do, such as sitting with a patient while the caregiver takes a break, or providing companionship, light chores or meal preparation. Generally, they are able and willing to step-in and help in a variety of situations.
Because of the level of commitment involved, a Caregiver Volunteer must have excellent listening and communication skills. They should also be emotionally mature, dependable, flexible and non-judgmental. Training for a Caregiver Volunteer is 32-hours.
Camp Volunteer
Camp Kaleidoscope is a free weekend sleepover camp for kids ages 6-12 who have experienced the death of a significant person in their life. Camp Kaleidoscope combines traditional camp activities with grief education. Activities are led by grief professionals and trained volunteers. Camp Kaleidoscope volunteers directly support campers as “Big Buddies” or through supporting campers during camp activities. Training to become a Camp Kaleidoscope volunteer is 14 hours.
Join us on Zoom to Learn more!
Camp Volunteer Informational
Meetings on Zoom:
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 – 4-5 PM
Friday, December 13, 2024 -12-1 PM
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 – 5-6 PM
For information or to RSVP for an info session, please contact Amie Carr acarr@peacehealth.org
Camp Volunteer Opportunities
Big Buddy (BB) – Camper support for the weekend. Responsible for getting campers to meals and activities on time and facilitating in cabin play time activities and encouraging cabin bonding. Big Buddies will facilitate grief conversations in the cabin and coordinates with clinical point person with any concerning camper issues.
Activity Level: Very High – Extensive walking throughout camp during entire weekend, occasional running and lifting, may have interrupted sleep as will sleep in cabin with campers.
Clinical Point Person (CPP) – Camper support position for trained counselors, bereavement specialists, or other specialists who work in the grief field. CPP’s are “Clinical Big Buddies” paired with a cabin of campers. Required: CPP volunteers must have an educational and work background with bereavement and two years of direct clinical experience. Qualified applicants are accepted at the discretion of clinical staff. May require attendance at additional planning meetings (approx. 3-4) prior to camp.
Activity Level: Very High – Requires extensive walking throughout camp weekend, occasional running, may have interrupted sleep.
Logistics Team – Provides the behind-the-scenes work to ensure our camp runs smoothly – assist with welcome, camp set up/take down activities, managing supplies and movement throughout camp. Logistics will have team members that stay at camp the entire weekend, as well as working with volunteers that help Fri and Sun with set up and take down that would not stay throughout weekend.
Activity Level: Very High – Must be able to lift 30 pounds, loading/unloading in truck and extensive walking throughout camp.
Ritual Team – Provides support to create meaningful rituals throughout the camp weekend for campers to honor and remember their significant person who died. Will meet 2-4 times prior to camp to plan activities. Procure supplies needed. Work throughout weekend to set up and take down activity.
Activity Level: Moderate/High – must be able to lift supplies and move supplies. Must walk throughout weekend. Required to sleep at camp (although not in cabin with campers)
Camp Support Team – Supports grief activities throughout the camp weekend by assisting campers in completing activities and providing support to Big Buddies. This role directly supports camp and campers. Moderate activity level.
Entertainment Team – Moves throughout the camp providing engagement opportunities to welcome and support campers as they get to know each other. High energy, comfortable wearing costumes and leading silly dances/activities. Required to sleep at camp.
Activity Level: Moderate/High
Musician – Needed to creatively support Welcome Team/Ritual team and support campers throughout weekend.
Activity Level: Moderate– must be able to walk around camp throughout weekend.
Set up/clean up Volunteer – Assists with prepping camp on Friday and cleaning up camp on Sunday. Would require heavy lifting and focused attention to detail. Works with the Logistics Team. This role will not stay throughout the weekend.
Activity Level: High
Hospitality Crew – Assists with camper meal service throughout weekend. Will host and provide support in Volunteer Hospitality Cabin
Activity Level: Moderate/High
Pet Therapy Volunteer – Trained therapy dog teams providing supportive and therapeutic opportunities to campers throughout the weekend. Teams must have all current certification requirements met and will be busy throughout the weekend, visiting different cabin groups, activities. Regular breaks as needed.
Activity Level: Moderate/High – significant walking throughout the weekend.
Letters From Hospice
We asked a Hospice chaplain, patient, family member, and a nurse to write a letter to someone about what they have learned through their hospice experience..
Foundation Board
Leaders from our local community serve on the Foundation Board.
Foundation Staff
Exceptional staff are stewards of our foundation’s mission and purpose.
Hospice Services
Top-quality, end of life care for every patient, regardless of ability to pay.
Do More
Your donation to the Whatcom Hospice Foundation can make a world of difference.
