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Become a Volunteer

Serving Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish counties, Hospice of the Northwest volunteers strengthen our team by providing care and comfort to patients and their families. They make the biggest impact by just being there for patients—holding hands, reading, performing small tasks, and empathetic listening.

There are many ways to serve as a Hospice of the Northwest Volunteer.

You may print and send us your Volunteer Application or contact our Volunteer Manager, Erin Long, for more information.

Erin Long: (360) 814-5588 or elong@hospicenw.org

Our volunteers often share that the work they do with patients, families, and in the office is an honor for them. Serving patients and their loved ones during end-of-life allows volunteers to meet a wide variety of people who are inspirational. Patients and their circle of support often share amazing life stories with our volunteers while they provide compassionate presence. Volunteers usually feel they gain personally more in their role than they are ever able to give back.

Hospice of the Northwest volunteers are offered a flexible schedule and typically serve between 1-4 hours per week, based on their availability. Allowances for personal time away are provided as needed. We are so grateful for each of our volunteers and for their service to hospice patients in the communities we serve.

Ways our volunteers make a difference:

Patient support: companionship, visits, active listening, bedside sitting, letter writing
Sharing hobbies: reading, gardening, listening to music, watching sports, crafts
Assisting caregivers: enabling caregivers to run errands, grocery shop, pick up prescriptions or just have time off
Household tasks: light housekeeping and snack prep
Administrative: help at the Hospice of the Northwest office, serving many different departments
Volunteer Leadership: leadership roles which allow us to expand our volunteer programs
Pet Peace of Mind: pet care and companionship in patient homes
Veteran to Veteran: veteran volunteers honoring and supporting our veteran patients
Animal Assisted Interventions: coordinating with licensed therapy animal teams for one-on-one visits

Downloadable Forms

Why I volunteer for Hospice of the Northwest

Pat’s Story

“Hospice volunteers do have a heart for those in a sudden, unexpected place and wish to make it better, if only by respectfully walking with them and helping in any way that soothes.”

Kathy’s Story

“Human relationships are the heart of the matter, and Hospice of the Northwest offers a very carefully and thoughtfully designed way to provide meaningful relationships during a fundamental time of transition, death.”