To protect the health of patients, their families, volunteers and staff, and to stop the spread of COVID-19, most volunteer roles at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton have been suspended.

The volunteers who have been able to continue providing support are assisting in the Hospice House with supply and the volunteer workroom and supply at team centers. Some volunteers are now drivers who deliver medical supplies and prescriptions to patients. Other volunteers are sewing face mask covers from home; while others are coordinating outreach calls for bereaved family members. In addition, volunteers have continued to make comfort items for patients and families, such as blankets, neck pillows and memory bears.

Before COVID-19, volunteers helped prepare supply kits, entered data, checked outreach call sheets, prepared admission packets, sorted mail, and assembled crisis care binders for the care teams. During COVID-19, the volunteer services staff is now completing those tasks.

While volunteers are unable to come in contact with patients during this crisis, Cameron Kester, safety and security manager at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, has been conducting Veteran pinnings in the Hospice House to continue honoring veteran patients.

“Our volunteers are priceless. The volunteer shoes are big shoes to fill when they are not here,” said Maureen Swarts, manager of volunteer services at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton. “Our volunteers are family. Each day they cannot come and do what they love doing is a void. They miss each other, too. Volunteering here is part of their life, and they want to get back to what they love doing.”

For information on how to become a volunteer, call 937.256.9507, ext. 3314, or visit our website.