I was a teacher for 29 years, it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.
After 29 years of teaching I never thought I’d be this happy again! I worked with Karen Carter for 13 years raising the butterflies for the annual butterfly releases. I admired her work, thoughtfulness, caring, and pride for Home Hospice. I started working there the day school let out in 2019.
It was a whole whirlwind of a first week. Everyone I met made me feel at home, as if I had been there for years. I had a new home. It didn’t take long to fall in love with each and every volunteer. They have the biggest, selfless hearts. It was so hard to believe they did this for free. The saying is, “Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless!”
Each volunteer brings a different type of caring and understanding to each patient.
Right now, during the CoVid19 crisis, we are doing phone calls. It doesn’t seem very important to get a phone call, but sometimes that’s the only amazing voice they will hear all week or month.
As a volunteer coordinator I have the responsibility of lots of paper work in the office.
I also have to meet each patient that chooses to have a volunteer so I can see which volunteer might be best for that patient. Once they are assigned a volunteer, I have to make sure they call or visit in a timely manner and make a good fit. We are also the hosts for a memorial in the fall for families of patients which have passed. Each family is given a special Christmas ornament for their tree as a keepsake. The butterfly release is the spring memorial. We have butterflies to release in memory of your loved ones which have passed. The entire community is invited. We have crafts and butterfly tattoos for the kids, cookies and lemonade.
We are also in charge of the Christmas teas. The teas are where we go to each nursing home in Odessa, and surrounding communities, and sing Christmas carols and serve hot peach tea and cookies. This always bring a smile to all the residents who attend. Each and every month our patients receive a handmade card the volunteers have decorated. In December our patients get a mini Christmas tree decorated by the volunteers.
We just want our patients to feel love, and like they are family. I am very proud to be a member of this organization. If you would like to volunteer please contact me at Home Hospice.
