CARLSBAD — Hospice of the North Coast (HNC) treated dozens of volunteers to a Feb. 14 luncheon as thanks for their selfless service.
HNC Executive Director Nerice Kaufman said, “Our patient care, administrative and resale shop volunteers are the heart of our organization. As a nonprofit, we could not survive without their dedicated service.”
Sally Lyons, an HNC volunteer for 20 years, represents multiple facets of service. She joined the organization as a patient care volunteer. Now she works on the newsletter and, on Saturdays, picks up meals for terminally ill Pacifica House residents. Confiding that her late husband was an HNC client in his final months, she said, “My husband received wonderful hospice care. Now I am here to help the staff help other people.”
Other attendees included five women who have devoted several hours per week for a combined nearly 60 years. June Kelly, Mary Lou Elliott, Jean Newmeyer, Isobel Haring and Colleta Davis say their impetus for volunteering in various capacities at HNC is simple: “It makes us feel good.”
Depending upon skills sets and interests, volunteers are invited to serve in a variety of capacities. Orientations for the first three categories below are typically held on a one-to-one basis. For the fourth category, in-depth patient care volunteer trainings are held periodically over a two-day session. The next session begins in early March.
Administrative volunteers assist at HNC headquarters at 2525 Pio Pico Drive in Carlsbad, serving as receptionists and fulfilling other important office tasks.
Volunteers also are needed at HNC’s new Pacifica House in-patient facility at 4411 Park Drive in Carlsbad, a six-bedroom residence that enables terminally ill people to spend their final days in a homelike environment with 24/7 medical care. Pacifica volunteers welcome patients and families, perform office duties and pick up meals from an outside agency.
Resale shop volunteers support daily operations of the Resale Shop at 278B El Camino Real in Encinitas, whose proceeds support HNC’s programs and services. Volunteers “run” the shop, from sorting and pricing of donated merchandise to customer service and cashiering.
Patient care volunteers are invaluable members of HNC’s collaborative care team. These “angels” offer empathetic support to the client and respite for the caregiver.
Guidelines and an application on these and other volunteering opportunities, including special event volunteers and integrative specialists in areas such as massage and music, are at hospicenorthcoast.org/volunteer/. Acosta also invites people to contact her directly at (760) 431-4100 or [email protected].
HNC and Scripps Health have entered into an exclusive agreement to discuss an affiliation between HNC and Scripps.
