Make a Difference with Just a Few Hours

Just a few hours of your time each week could bring comfort and companionship to someone in need.  Hospice volunteers are urgently needed in Washington County, particularly in Wesley, Alexander, Cooper, Crawford, Charlotte, Baring, Baileyville, Princeton, Grand Lake Stream, Calais, Perry, Robbinston, Eastport, Pembroke, Dennysville, Edmunds, Whiting, Lubec and surrounding towns.

This fall, Down East Hospice Volunteers is offering training in Calais starting September 24, giving local residents the opportunity to join a dedicated team that has been providing free hospice care for over 43 years.  Volunteers play a critical role in offering emotional and practical support to individuals facing serious illness and their families.

As a hospice volunteer, you won’t be providing medical care, but you will offer something just as valuable—your time.  Whether it’s reading a book, looking through old photo albums, writing letters, planning a garden, or simply sitting with someone so their caregiver can take a break, your presence can make all the difference.  

Many volunteers find deep personal satisfaction in knowing they have lightened someone’s load, even for just a few hours.

For the first time in over four decades, Down East Hospice had to decline support to a family due to a lack of available volunteers nearby.  This highlights the critical need for compassionate individuals to step forward, especially in smaller, remote communities.

The upcoming training, to be held at Calais Community Hospital, is state-licensed and mandatory for all volunteers.  Both men and women are encouraged to join, and volunteers will never be asked to take on assignments they are not comfortable with.

If you can spare just two hours a week, consider becoming a hospice volunteer.  To learn more, contact Barbara Barnett at 207-726-5087, email [email protected], or call 454-7521 ext. 9126.  You can also download an application and learn more at downeasthospicevolunteers.org.