Volunteers are the heart of Hope. It is only through their efforts that we are able to fulfill our mission - providing exceptional care and support to every individual and their loved ones as they fulfill life’s journey.

Over 800 trained volunteers provide a wide range of services to patients and support to our organization. Each Hope volunteer is an essential part of our team. In every office or clinical setting in our organization, volunteers are on hand to help.

Who Can Volunteer?
Anyone 14 years of age or older with a caring heart and time to share can become a Hope volunteer. Our volunteers represent people from all walks of life with varied interests who lend their life experiences to help our organization and the families we serve. Learn more about the Teen Volunteer Program.

Become a Volunteer
The first step in becoming a volunteer is to call Hope Volunteer Department at (239) 482-4673 or (800) 835-1673. Next, a volunteer application form is completed. The form can be mailed to you, if you cannot download it from our website. After your application is completed, you will be scheduled for Hope Volunteer Training. See our Volunteer Training Schedule here.

Ways to Volunteer
There are as many ways to volunteer as there are individual volunteers. Ask the Hope Volunteer Department how you can best use your unique talents and abilities to help hospice patients and families. Here are just a few of the ways to volunteer:

• Take a patient to a doctor's appointment
  
• Run errands for a family
  
• Provide emotional support and friendship
  
• Give a caregiver some much needed rest
  
• Spend time holding a hand, talking, listening
  
• Deliver medication and supplies
  
• Visit patients in hospitals, assisted living or skilled nursing facilities
  
• Be a phone buddy for a patient who lives alone
  
• Assist with clerical work
  
• Provide office support for many departments
  
• Help with fundraisers, community activities and special events
  
• Work at Hope Chest, our resale store
  
• Attend health fairs to share information about hospice
  
• Translate foreign languages
  
• Create Videos, Life Legacy Books, scrapbooks, and collages for patients
  
• Help in the kitchen of one of our Hospice Houses
  
• Play instruments for patients and families
  
• Volunteer at the Rainbow Trails Bereavement Camp for children
  
• Make phone calls to bereaved families
  
• Participate in sewing and crafts projects