Hawaii Care Choices, a provider of palliative, hospice and bereavement care to East Hawaii, is looking to add to its volunteer team and will conduct a training session in June for those members of the community interested in giving a few hours a week to uplift others.
Hawaii Care Choices, a provider of palliative, hospice and bereavement care to East Hawaii, is looking to add to its volunteer team and will conduct a training session in June for those members of the community interested in giving a few hours a week to uplift others.
For volunteer David Kohara, being a volunteer with an organization that serves the community was on his “bucket list” once he retired. One he completed the orientation and training, “I knew I made the right decision,” said Kohara.
New volunteers can choose to provide services like companionship, giving caregivers a break, transportation, errands, cooking, music, light household chores, bereavement support, administrative support, landscaping, and assisting with community events. Licensed massage therapists and hairdressers are welcome. Veterans are encouraged to apply.
For Kohara, “making a difference in someone’s life matters so much.” Kohara volunteers regularly and enjoys providing companionship, helping with patient care, like assisting with meals, and being a ‘vigil team member’ — sitting with patients during the final hours of their journey. The patients “are all heroes, and I am honored and privileged to have been with them,” said Kohara.
Interested trainees should complete an online application and then call Volunteer Manager Jeanette Mochida at 969-1733 to arrange a quick mandatory pretraining interview no later than June 7.
Training will include a 10-hour online course to be completed prior to meeting from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on June 14 for the final day of instruction.
