Ralph Waldo Emerson once said "It is one of the beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." I believe this describes a hospice volunteer’s experience when spending precious time with a patient. The volunteer’s gift of time may seem like a small thing on the surface but the relationship and impact they can have with the patient and family is immeasurable.

People are sometimes hesitant to get involved with volunteering because they do not believe they have anything to offer. The person may have the gift of time and a desire to make a difference but believe they lack the talent or skills necessary. Kay Lee, Agapé Hospice Volunteer Coordinator for the Rock Hill area tells her volunteer recruits this. "Any talent, hobby or interest you have can and will be incorporated into our volunteer ministry."

When a person makes a commitment to volunteer with hospice, the first step is to get connected through a volunteer coordinator. The coordinator helps the new volunteer acquire the orientation and training required to allow him/her to get started in the field. The training is approximately six hours and is often broken into smaller segments for the convenience of the volunteer.

Not every volunteer in hospice works directly with patients, there are hundreds of ways a volunteer can be utilized in a hospice organization. Hospice sponsored education, events and service projects are just a few of the areas where a volunteer could have an impact. It is the coordinators job to ensure each volunteer is positioned for success in his/her chosen role.

Agapé Hospice serves all 46 Counties in South Carolina and each region of the state has volunteer coordinator's that can answer questions about the ministry. There is a contact form online @ http://www.agapehospice.com/volunteer-form where a person can submit their information to get connected or call 800-411-(Agape) 2427 for more information.