Duties vary but our volunteers generally provide the following:

• Patient/Family Care - Assisting patients and their families by offering support, running errands and helping with household duties.
   
• Hiland Cottage Support - Assist with patient needs and reception desk duties 
   
• Administrative Support - Working in the office on mailings, data entry and maintaining the lending library.
   
• Community Awareness - Volunteers provide information to the community about hospice programs and services.
   
• Fundraising - Assist in raising the funds necessary to maintain the services offered through the bereavement program, Quality of Life Fund and other non-reimbursable projects.
   

Hospice is always looking for additional volunteers in our service area- Emmet ,Charlevoix and parts of Antrim, Cheboygan and Otsego Counties.  Individual and group training opportunities are available; if you are interested in learning more about our volunteer program, please call (231) 487-4825.

Hospice Recognizes Volunteer Commitment
Each year in April, volunteers from many different programs are recognized, thanked and honored for their commitment to volunteerism. Hospice of Little Traverse Bay has taken that recognition one step further. The program, begun in 1981 by a group of volunteers seeking to provide better support to cancer patients, continues to rely on volunteers in many ways.

Hospice volunteers provide hundreds of hours of service each year whether it is being a companion for caregivers or patients, reading poetry and books, running errands, facilitating bereavement groups, working with bereaved children, working in the office or raising money to support the programs. Volunteers remain an integral part of every hospice program.

“We currently have about 45 active patient care volunteers who have been through the training course and have made themselves available to work with our patients and families, says Program Director, Lisa Ashley.”

Hospice recognizes their volunteers each year in May by hosting a recognition dinner. Through the generosity of Mark Littler and his family, Hospice has established the Edith Littler Volunteer Recognition Fund which allows them to say thank you to all of the volunteers. The family felt a strong connection with the Hospice volunteers who worked with Mrs. Littler in Arizona and wanted to support those who work for the local program.

"Through the Edith Littler Volunteer Recognition Fund we have been able to better say thank you to all those who make us successful," said Ashley. "Awards are presented and best of all, we get to bring all of the volunteers together in one place for fellowship and fun."

* For other Community Volunteer Opportunities tinyurl.com/volunteerconnections