TRU “Tuck-In” volunteers Elaine and Libby making calls to the families of our hospice patients.
This week is National Volunteer Week (April 21-27), and we’d like to take a moment to celebrate the amazing individuals who give so selflessly of their time and talents to support TRU Community Care’s mission.
Our robust volunteer force of over 360 dedicated volunteers play an invaluable role for TRU. In 2023 alone, these incredible people collectively donated an astounding 30,000 hours of service across our hospice, palliative care, grief services, thrift shop, and other programs.
The impact of our volunteers’ work cannot be overstated. They provide vital personalized support to our hospice patients and families – offering companionship, respite care, specialized therapies, and so much more. Our grief services would not be possible without volunteers facilitating support groups and managing the lending library. And of course, the TRU Thrift Shop simply couldn’t operate without our army of retail volunteers.
Volunteerism is woven into the fabric of who we are as an organization. Medicare actually requires that 5% of all hospice patient care hours come from trained volunteers. But at TRU, we go above and beyond, with volunteers providing double the required number of hours. This speaks to how invaluable they are to delivering the highest quality care.
TRU volunteer Larry Sturgeon performs a Vietnam Veteran Pinning Ceremony.
“Our volunteers are an essential part of our organization. They enable us to provide the best care possible to our patients and their families,” said Jen Thomas, Director of Communications and Volunteer Services. “We could not fulfill our mission of affirming life without their compassionate service.”
From providing a reassuring presence at a patient’s bedside, to carefully sorting donations at the thrift shop, to lending an empathetic ear during grief counseling – our volunteers display unwavering commitment to easing life’s most difficult journeys.
Their selflessness truly makes our community a better, more compassionate place. While National Volunteer Week is a designated time to honor their service, we celebrate our volunteers every single day at TRU Community Care. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for everything you do!
