GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — Emmanuel Hospice needs volunteers in the greater Grand Rapids region. This includes volunteers for the pet visitor program, as well as patient and family support volunteers.
"Our census is growing, which just means we're having a lot of new people that are signing on to our services," said Holly Salas, volunteer coordinator. "We need to match the volunteers to meet those patient needs."
One longtime volunteer is Lenny, a therapy dog who visits patients in the winter of their lives. His owner, Katie Eitzen, brings him to visit with the patients in residential care.
"They aren't just a patient number, they're a remarkably cool person," said Eitzen. "And I get to hear their stories and share their life with them, and make these little glimmers at this part of their life possible."
Lenny, a mixed-breed, is the perfect dog for the job.
"He's just a real laid-back guy," said Eitzen. "The very first time I ever brought him into a place like this, he walked up to who was notably the oldest person I've ever met in my life. She was 104. He walked up to her and sat in front of her and just put both of his paws in her lap. He shows up and he says, 'Hey, I love you.'"
Volunteers are especially needed in the northern Kent County area, like Belmont, Sparta and Greenville.
Volunteers will be trained as patient/family support volunteers. Their pets will also be certified as a companion animal. Emmanuel Hospice will make the arrangements for pet certification.
Volunteers can also assist in capturing patients' life stories, office needs, community outreach, making bereavement calls or crafting.
"They're spending a lot of their day just kind of just being and just sitting," said Salas about the patients. "Pet visitors and volunteers provide so much joy to them."
Information about how to volunteer can be found at EmmanuelHospice.org/volunteer.