Mission Hospice provides 20 hours of training before you begin, which I so appreciated! The training really helped me feel prepared and to think about my own attitudes about living and dying. The other volunteers were wonderful people. I feel a great deal of support from the staff and other members of my hospice teams. This continued after training, as I now am in touch with Guy, the volunteer coordinator on a regular basis, and with members of the various hospice teams. How great to help people in need, and to be a part of a larger organization which is committed to care.

Having the experience of working with persons terminally ill is not an easy task, but for those who can give unconditional support for the people that need it, working with hospice is a highly gratifying. The training (with Guy or Denise) is very worthy on itself. The major point of the training is to make the volunteer to accept death as a part of life and prepare hem/her to put up with it. It also puts the volunteer on the skin of the patient and make hem/her feel what the patient would feel on the perspective of an eminent death. After the instruction there is a multitude of patients that need someone to listen to them, keep them company even for a short time, or just hold there hands. I encourage everyone that is looking for accomplishment in volunteer work to contact hospice and start a training, and good luck. And for Mission Hospice a big five.

I would 110% recommend Mission Hospice as an organization to volunteer for. My experience there for the last year has been very rewarding and is truly a special organization. At Mission hospice, they value their volunteers and are very professional with there training no matter which way you decide to help. Denise Matherly, their volunteer coordinator, has years of experience working in a hospice setting and provides insightful and thorough training. During my last year visiting patients she has made herself always available and has given unconditional support and appreciation to me. It has been very nice to feel valued and part of a team, and Denise is a amazing person to work with. Hospice is a wonderful organization and volunteering for them you truly help increase the quality of people's lives and your own. I strongly encourage any person looking for a rewarding volunteer experience to get in touch with Denise to learn more about it. There are so many ways to help! :