Volunteering
Fax us at 907-561-0334
Have you thought about volunteering but didn't know if you were cut out for it?
Here’s what Hospice of Anchorage believes makes a great volunteer:
Motivation - Do you have a general interest in any type of volunteering, or do you feel called to volunteer with those who are ill or dying? Do you feel moved by hospice and bereavement work? People who have an interest in the field they are volunteering in may be more successful as volunteers.
Time Commitment - It takes around one hour per week for at least a year to be a Compassionate Companion. Do you have time in your schedule? Would you be losing much-needed time to yourself? Successful volunteers are able to schedule their time consistently without burning out.
Listening Skills - If you think hospice volunteering sounds interesting because you want to talk about your specific afterlife beliefs or you have alternative cures you want to tell people about, this is not the right volunteer opportunity for you. Successful volunteers can sit without expectations but with empathy. They can be present with someone else without trying to "fix" anything. They can Be Here Now.
If you are interested in volunteering directly with patients and have motivation, time commitment, and listening skills, please consider becoming a compassionate companion! Life feels uncertain for many right now, and people in our community are still dying. Their families are still struggling. We may not be able to consistently be there in person at this time, but we can still support them in many other ways. It continues to be important to help provide caring social support during one of the most mysterious journeys in life--that of it's end.
