Event volunteers (L to R) Larry Hirschberger, Chris Dunham and Paul Bates help direct parking during Hospicare's summer community memorial event, Illuminations.

Helping with events and serving on committees are two ways community members can make a real difference to those among us who are dealing with serious illness and grief. These types of volunteer jobs do not require the 20-hour training program that volunteers who work with patients must attend.  

Right now, we're looking for community members to volunteer for the following areas:

• Development Committee and Events Committee

• Women Swimmin' 2015

• Fundraising and Memorial Events

Read more about these volunteer opportunities.

Patient Frank Turek celebrates his birthday with Hospicare Aide Tina Jacintho (left) and Nurse Connie O'Brien in September 2013.

Here are some of the benefits of choosing hospice sooner:

• As patients and family members work with the Hospicare team, they become more comfortable sharing their end-of-life journey and discussing their care needs. This rapport can help in the building of an optimal care plan based on the patient's and family's wishes.

• Pain and symptoms can be controlled better. Our hospice team members are specially trained in the treatment of pain and discomfort . . .

Girl Scout Troop 40374 recently raised money to purchase many items from our wishlist for us.

Recently some of Hopsicare's youngest supporters gave us some wonderful donations.

• This spring Girl Scout Troop 40374 visited the Hospicare offices and Residence, bringing many items from our wish list. For their Bronze Award, the scouts organized fundraisers to raise money and purchased the wish list items for us. 
   
• A few weeks ago, the 8th grade class of the Lehman Alternative Community School (LACS) in Ithaca presented Hospicare with this year's William De Winter Fund donation. The fund is named in memory of a former LACS student, and each year's 8th grade class chooses the nonprofit or human rights organization that will receive the $50 donation. The donation was given to Hospicare in memory of Leyla Dietrich.

• At the end of the school year, the Beverly J. Martin Girls on the Run group brought in handmade cards, paper flowers, bookmarks and origami. The girls choose Hospicare for their community service project and made these sweet gifts and messages for our patients. Their gifts were much appreciated. In fact, Edie Regan, Hospicare spiritual care coordinator, reports that when she gave one of the cards to a patient who had been somewhat withdrawn, the patient became animated, exclaiming over the card and the kindness that had gone into making it.