Volunteer Services
The volunteers at Hospice & Palliative Care of Kodiak are the hearts of our organization. Each volunteer brings their unique combination of interests skills and experience. Many have navigated through their own families illness, death and grief, and personally understand how difficult it can be. Some volunteers provide support services such as bereavement connections, grief groups, or collaborate together to bring our community education in death, awareness, advanced planning, and funeral/end of life awareness. Whatever your gifts are; we will find a way for you to find your ‘fit’ volunteering.
All volunteers are under the direct supervision of the executive director and programs manager of Hospice & Palliative Care of Kodiak.
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Offer friendship, socialization, respite care and non-medical support to individuals, their caregivers and other family members at the client’s residence (including assisted living residences, long term care, Providence Hospital, or Chiniak Elder House).
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Assist with a variety of tasks for HPCK operations. This work includes writing thank you cards, bereavement mailings, fundraising and education events, and small household projects (such as installing grab bars, short ramps or shelving units for clients.)
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Provide support to families before, during, and after the death of a loved one. This could include facilitating meals for families, funeral assistance if desired, encouragement with continued contact with them for 13 months, calling and sending cards via our Monthly mailing program. For clients and community, Hospice facilitates Grief Walk, Art Workshops, Group Groups, Book Club and other programs throughout the year.
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When death is expected within days to weeks, the family may request volunteers to be present for “11th hour support.” End of Life volunteers collaborate with the primary care provider and nurse practitioner specializing in Palliative Care for non-medical support. Time with the family provides gathering and delivering supplies as needed, preparing a meal, or walking the family through what to expect next. This volunteer also educates families of their liaison with EMS and our Kodiak Funeral Home. Each client & family situation is unique in its own journey.