Hawaii Care Choices, 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 members of the community interested in giving a few hours a week to uplift others.
For David Kohara, being a volunteer with an organization that serves the community was on his “bucket list” once he retired.
“I knew I made the right decision,” said Kohara after completing volunteer orientation and training.
New volunteers can choose to provide services such as 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.” He volunteers regularly and enjoys providing companionship, helping with patient care such as 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,” Kohara said.
Interested trainees should complete an online application at www.hawaiicarechoices.org/ and then call volunteer manager Jeanette Mochida at 969-1733 to arrange a quick mandatory pre-training 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. June 14 for the final day of instruction.