-Dame Cicely Mary Saunders

“I have been a hospice volunteer for almost 6 years and look forward to each visit with my patients. One of the patients that I am visiting each week lives in a Board and Care home and is very confined to her bed or chair, speaks very few words but smiles and laughs out loud when I speak happy words in her ear. She also holds my hands with a grip of love. I play old music tunes to her.”

Smiles, Rozella Brown

“Volunteering with the ability to help others is far more rewarding to me than it is to the patient. Making another person feel better about themselves makes me feel good that I was able to help someone to put a smile on their face. Their families really appreciate our time to make their loved ones have a better life.”

Bob Graf (A 5 year volunteer with over 22 patients served.)

“Whenever I am assigned a patient and family I often try to find out what I can accomplish behind the scenes to help make their life a little easier. I like to think of myself like a 'little elf'. Most of the time, the families are very grateful for the volunteer spending time with their cherished one. It's just nice to be able to do something that the family was not expecting of you. There have been times, I cleaned up the kitchen, reduced the clutter in the garage, closets, anywhere in the house, brought flowers, cleaned up the dog's poop in the house and/or helped create a happy atmosphere for the family member to return home to. Usually the family member does not notice until after you have left.”

With Gratitude, Kathleen Lubanski

“Volunteering is not always a one-way street to make a hospice patient feel important. The joy I get having a patient laugh with me or reminisce about their life is a precious and cherished moment for both of us.”

Jackie McMurray

“I cannot express how rewarding it is to be a hospice volunteer. There is no better feeling than to be able to help and comfort someone in need. Being able to bring a little sunshine into my patient’s life or that of their family members is a wonderful feeling. Listening, responding and caring can mean so much to both my patients as well as their family members. It is a great gift to share!”

Bev Vandemark

“I am relieving the caregiver for what must be one of the sweetest families anyone could ever meet. Watching the wife care for her husband is watching a real love story. She is a true caregiver and takes care of everyone around her. Every time I'm there she has something to give me even though I have assured her that she does not need to give me anything at all. One of her most endearing gifts was when, after returning from the grocery, she took something from her grocery bag to give to me -- a king size KitKat bar, the biggest KitKat I've ever seen! She's a true gift in my life and a true blessing.”

Norma Worland

"There is nothing quite like getting a phone call from your patient who just wants to say 'hi' or hearing another patient relive an 8th grade dance scene in which she wore the prettiest home-made dress circa 1929. Like that commercial says, 'priceless'."

Anonymous FHC Volunteer