“Each year, we pause to say a big ‘thank you’ to our volunteers,” stated State of the Heart Volunteer Manager Pauline Faller. “What they do for us is so selfless and so much appreciated by our staff, our patients and our families. It is an honor to set aside a special time to show our appreciation.”
National Volunteer week is April 21-27. State of the Heart will host two different events honoring the agency’s approximately 120 volunteers. On Thursday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m., volunteers will be honored at a dinner at Ft. Recovery Middle School Auditeria, 865 Sharpsburg Rd. in Ft. Recovery. Later, on May 2, volunteers are invited to a luncheon which will be served at the Turtle Creek Golf Course, 6545 U.S. Route 36, just outside Greenville. The theme of recognition is: Comfort.Love.Respect.
Volunteers are an important part of the hospice team of caregivers. In addition to volunteers, others in the care team include a physician, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, chaplains, and music therapists. Volunteers help in many ways; they visit with patients, in many instances allowing the caregiver to run errands or leave the house for a short time. They run errands, deliver supplies to patients, help with routine office tasks, and assist with promotional and fund raising events.
“Volunteers are always needed,” Faller stated. “The wonderful part of volunteering for State of the Heart is that volunteers can choose how many hours they want to volunteer and choose which tasks they feel most comfortable doing.” She added, “Some people wonder if they volunteer and are gone from the area for awhile, if they can resume when they return home. They certainly can. There is a great deal of flexibility in volunteering for State of the Heart.”
State of the Heart Hospice, with offices in Greenville, Coldwater and Portland, has cared for patients for 32 years. The agency cares for patients and families in eastern Indiana and western Ohio who are confronting a life limiting illness.
If you are interested in volunteering, please call Pauline Faller at 1-800-417-7535. For information about any of the services provided by State of the Heart, visit the agency web site at www.stateoftheheartcare.org.