Honoring Life’s End

To the Editor:

“I volunteer because life’s end should be as honored as its beginning.”

Not too long ago some of the volunteers of Regional Hospice were asked why they give so much of their time and talents to help our agency. This was among their responses. We at Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut are proud and honored to take this opportunity during National Volunteer Week, April 18–24, to recognize and thank our many volunteers who so selflessly help us honor life.

Our volunteers inspire us with their compassion, their commitment, their ability, and their humility. Their dedication to Regional Hospice and the Healing Hearts Center for Grieving Children and Families keeps our mission alive for our patients and their families and nourishes its place in the communities we serve.

We train volunteers to visit with our patients and their families, visit with the bereaved, and work with children who have experienced loss at a much too early age. In turn, our volunteers teach us about the depth of generosity and endlessness of love. We show volunteers our office procedures so that they can help us file, enter data, and reach out to the community. In turn, our volunteers embrace us with their support. We plan with our chapter community volunteers and discuss their local hospice events. In turn, our volunteers inspire us with their passion to so tirelessly support our work and keep our mission alive. We regularly meet with members of our Professional Advisory Board and our Board of Directors. In turn, they encourage us to become a strong and necessary resource in the community. We meet with members of the National Charity League, staff at Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation, and other civic, corporate, and community organizations to determine how they can help us serve our patients and their families. In turn, they honor us by becoming partners to the mission of hospice. Regional Hospice is blessed to have so many members of our community devote their time and their hearts to honoring life’s end.

Eleanor McClellan

Volunteer Coordinator

Maureen Moore

Executive Director

Regional Hospice of Western CT, Inc

30 West Street, Danbury                                              April 19, 2004