Having grown up in Wisconsin, my mom used to say, “April showers bring May flowers!” However, here in Florida, there is never a time that flowers don’t bloom! Just different seasons for different flowers. So are you in the lives of our patients and their families. The beauty of your service brightens the day for those you serve. Those of you working in one of our departments lighten the workload for our staff for which they are grateful for.
Check out what is going on this month! We hope you can join us at the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on April 18 at the University of North Florida. We have three dogs and two cats that need new forever homes! We salute Ed Goossen, retiring after 21 years of volunteer service.
This newsletter contains a lot of wonderful things that are happening in the Volunteer Services department for Community Hospice and Palliative Care. If you have a volunteer experience you want to share with us, please email your story to your volunteer coordinator.
Don't forget: our entire Volunteer Services Department is here to help you. Please click here for a list of contacts who are here to provide you support!
Happy Volunteering!
We need you! We’d love your volunteer assistance with our efforts in our expanded 16-county service area. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Bertie Allender by phone at 386.530.6988 or by email at aallender@communityhospice.com.
On Thursday, April 18, 2019 at 11:15 a.m. at The University of North Florida's Herbert University Center, we are hosting our Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon! We are celebrating 40 years of caring and compassion.
The keynote speaker will be Community Hospice & Palliative Care President and CEO Susan Ponder-Stansel.
You will receive a ticket to qualify for the gift basket drawing!
Registration will be at 11:15 a.m. You can RSVP now by calling our Volunteer Services Department at 904.407.7063. When you RSVP, let us know if you are requesting a vegetarian meal or if you would like to reserve your seat on one of the buses.
Buses will pick up at the following locations:
The annual Thursday Night Workin’ Man’s Bass Tournament season will start before we know it! The 2019 series begins April 4 and runs through August 29. Last year the tournament raised $5,000 for Community Hospice & Palliative Care.
Again this year, we need volunteers to help sell 50/50 raffle tickets on Thursday nights. The shift is usually from about 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. depending on sunset time. As we did last year, we’d like volunteers to sign up for one shift per month April-August. If you can’t commit to a monthly shift, we’d still love to have you come out and help on any date you’re available!!
By volunteering your time for this fundraiser you are providing vital support to the patients and families we serve. We could not do this without you!
To sign up for a shift or for any questions, please contact Kim Cherry, development assistant, Foundation, at 904.407.6154 or kcherry@communityhospice.com.
The Volunteer Services Department celebrated the volunteer service of Ed Goossen, who retired after 21 years of faithful volunteer service with Community Hospice and Palliative Care!
Ed is pictured here with his two daughters who joined in his retirement celebration. Ed tallied an impressive 5,774 hours of volunteer service over 21 years. Thank you, Ed, for all your kind words over the years with our patients and their families.
The fellow volunteers Ed served with were blessed with memorable moments! Ed is a proud Navy veteran who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars.
As you know, the Pet Peace of Mind program provides an opportunity for you to help assist us with the pet needs of our patients. Since starting this program in 2014, we have provided 243 services for dogs and cats of our patients. We have adopted out 39 dogs and 37 cats during this time period.
Pets waiting to be adopted:
Currently, we have 3 dogs and 2 cats who need new forever homes. If you are interested or know of someone who is interested, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Chris Whitney at 904.470.0688 or email her at cwhitney@communityhospice.com.
You can also head to our Facebook page to take a look at these wonderful animals and you can check out our Volunteer page under the "Pet Peace Of Mind: These Pets Need Forever Homes!" tab to see what furry friends need your help.
Pet Peace of Mind
Pet fostering involves bringing a cat or dog into your home with the goal of nurturing them for a while until they can be adopted into a permanent home with a family that will love them forever.
Pet Peace of Mind (PPOM) cats and dogs, like their human family members, have experienced the loss of a loved one.
They need a place to stay as they learn to adjust to their new life, and being in a home environment is favorable to living in a kennel. Community Hospice & Palliative Care PPOM pets have all been to the veterinarian for a complete exam, and in some cases, may have recently been spayed or neutered - if they were not ‘fixed’ prior to becoming a PPOM pet.
Veterinary expenses for these pets will be covered by Community Hospice and we will help provide pet food, bowls, etc. if needed. There is no way to guarantee the time a pet will be in your home as a foster, but with your help by providing photos and personality information of your foster pet, we hope to find them a permanent, loving home quickly.
Our Volunteer Services Department is always here to help. Please click here for a list of contacts who are here to provide you support!
Join pet and art lovers for a creative and fun evening on Tuesday, April 12 from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. for Portraits of Loyalty: we will paint our furry loved ones and support the Pet Peace of Mind program.
All levels are welcome and there will be lots of artistic help! All participants must register beforehand -- please click here to sign up.
Please be sure to submit a high-resolution photo to Betsy Miller at emiller1@communityhospice.com or text 904.608.3159 by Tuesday, April 5. A donation of $75 will secure your spot. For Community Hospice & Palliative Care volunteer appreciation week, the special donation price is $50. Space is very limited!
Important announcement: Only use the “electronic contact note” part of the app if you are completing a contact note. Do not use the “time clock.” Your time is being tracked within the electronic contact note.
Only use the “time clock” if you are doing one of the following volunteer services:
If you are a Patient Family Volunteer and have not received the link to the new time clock/contact note, please notify your Volunteer Coordinator.
Just a note: Thrift Shop volunteers will be receiving this new time clock feature in the near future.
Those of you who have completed the training, if you are interested in registering for the next training, please email Betsy Beckham at bbeckham@communityhospice.com or call 904.407.6117.
Please help us add to the Volunteer Team by asking your relatives or friends to consider volunteering with Community Hospice & Palliative Care. To fill out a volunteer application, please click here.
The Volunteer Services Department is available to help you at any time. The main volunteer number is 904.407.7064
For a complete list of the Volunteer Services Department, click here.
You can also visit the website at Volunteer.CommunityHospice.com.