Pine Tree Hospice in search of new volunteers

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Volunteering for Pine Tree Hospice is a wonderful way to dramatically improve the lives of others while also enhancing one’s own life by earning the special type of satisfaction that can only be achieved by helping those in need. It is also a perfect way for students to fulfill their community service requirements and significantly upgrade their college applications by demonstrating to admissions’ offices that they are people who care deeply about their community. The dedicated team of employees and volunteers for Pine Tree Hospice sincerely hope that members of the community will consider attending an upcoming volunteer training session.

    Why does Pine Tree Hospice need volunteers?
    Pine Tree Hospice has the honor of working with clients and families throughout the 39 towns in its service area as they deal with a life-limiting progressive disease. Volunteers are able to help as soon as there is a diagnosis and therefore provide support for years rather than months or days. As more people become aware that volunteers are available to them even if they are taking curative treatments, the census has grown.  In fact in the past two years volunteer hours have increased 51 percent.
    Pine Tree Hospice is pleased to have the highest census they have ever had knowing that they are making life a bit easier for those families. At the same time as the hospice care program is at this all-time high, the need for bereavement support has become greater as well.  While they are thrilled to have services being used, they are faced with a great challenge to meet the need. The core of direct care volunteers and bereavement facilitators are working hard, but the fact is Pine Tree Hospice simply needs more volunteers.
    To address this crucial need, Pine Tree Hospice will be holding trainings this fall. Trainings are based on mandated state regulations and the curriculum of the nationally-acclaimed Center for Grieving Children. They hope that those interested will seriously consider taking one or more of these free trainings this fall and sharing the gift of their talents with those in the community that need assistance. Remember volunteers will be able to choose what types of support they want to provide as well as how much time they wish to offer.
    Please seriously consider sharing your interests. As volunteers will quickly learn, they will receive even more than they give. Pine Tree Hospice looks forward to hearing from potential volunteers and working together to be there for those in the community reaching out for support.
    I am interested in working directly with families in need? Where do I start?
    To be a bereavement facilitator or hospice direct care volunteer, volunteers will need to first take an 11-hour core training. This core training will be held on Sunday, Sept. 15 and Sunday, Sept. 22 from 1-6:30 p.m. Engaging presenters will cover an array of topics such as communication skills, stress management, hospice philosophy and family dynamics. 
    Upon completing the core training, depending upon one’s interests, volunteers take an additional 9-hour module to become a Hospice Direct Care volunteer or take another 14-hour module to become a bereavement facilitator for children and adults. Of course, all are welcome to take both modules and be trained for both types of volunteering. Meals will be provided at all the trainings.  The 9-hour hospice care module will be presented on Wednesday, Oct. 16 from 5-9 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 20 from 1-6 p.m. The 14-hour bereavement facilitator module will be held on Thursday, Sept. 26 from 5-9 p.m, Thursday, Oct. 3 from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 5 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Those who have already had the bereavement training and wish to become a direct care volunteer need only to take the 9-hour hospice module training. Likewise a direct care volunteer wishing to become a bereavement facilitator, need only take the bereavement modules.
    Are there other ways I can volunteer?
    Absolutely. If someone wishes to volunteer but are not comfortable working directly with families, there is still much they can do. To get started, they will need to take a 4-hour independent study training (Pine Tree Hospice 101). Simply contact Pine Tree Hospice and they will get the packet out. Upon completion volunteers will be ready to be a committee member, do some errands, help out on some projects or fundraisers, mow a lawn or perhaps join the board of directors.
    Where will the training sessions be held?
    All training sessions will take place at Mayo Regional Hospital’s Resource Center.
    Who can I contact if I have questions or am ready to get started?
    Please call the Pine Tree Hospice office at 564-4346, send an email to wecare@pinetreehospice.org or visit www.pinetreehospice.org.