Volunteer Opportunities

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Thank you for considering offering your time and talents to help homebound and terminally-ill clients and their caregivers. Whether you are a student, a retired person, currently employed or not currently employed, you are welcome and encouraged to explore our volunteer opportunities. A wide variety of activities is available to match just about any schedule and interest.

In-home Hospice Volunteer

Be one of a unique group of specially-trained volunteers who provide companionship for hospice clients and respite for their caregivers.

“Volunteering for Appalachian Community means that I am doing my part, small though it may be, to help ensure that Hospice and Visiting Nurses will be able to continue serving those in need in our area.”

-- Gifford Doxsee

Hospice volunteers visit clients in their own homes or in nursing or assisted living facilities.

Activities may include quiet conversation, playing cards, board games or working jigsaw puzzles, washing dishes, feeding assistance, reading aloud, tending a garden, writing letters, to name but a few.

You may choose to schedule regular visits (usually once a week from 2-4 hours in length) or to be available on-call, providing family emergency and special event coverage (perhaps 3-6 hours a month).

In-home volunteers complete an application, 12 hours of self-directed training (including shadowing experienced volunteers), and a thorough background check. Training is scheduled at the candidate volunteer’s convenience.

We are particularly interested at this time in volunteer recruits who live in communities within our service area that are outside of the Athens area. If you are interested, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator. Training may be available in your local area.

Office Volunteer

Office volunteers work with staff in the office on such activities as filing, copying, data entry, processing and collating documents, and/or assisting with special projects. An application is required, as is a basic training module.

Quality-of-life Volunteers

Quality-of-life volunteer activities are perfect for those volunteers who want to serve clients in a direct way, but who do not choose to make in-home visits. We have several quality-of-life activities (and we are always open to more ideas!):

Pen Pals. Perfect for caring people who don’t have a lot of time, Pen Pals write brief, chatty notes once or twice a week to clients who still enjoy receiving mail. An application is required, as is a basic training module.
Flower Power. Community volunteers grow and arrange flowers in the spring and summer months for weekly delivery to hospice and VNA clients. In the fall and winter, volunteers create handmade flowers for a monthly delivery.
Casserole Comfort. Volunteers gather at an appointed time (currently once a month) to cook a number of casseroles for delivery by staff to hospice households.

Group Volunteer Opportunities

Our volunteer program offers several ways for student groups, church groups, neighborhood associations, or others to participate in quality-of-life activities for hospice and homebound clients and their families. Below are just a few.

Celebrate the holidays with homemade Halloween bags and Valentine’s cards, or even some pies or cookies at Thanksgiving.
Get some friends together and rake leaves or shovel snow.
Help prepare or maintain a garden or plant seedlings in the spring.

All volunteers are invited to attend monthly Brown Bag lunches to hear speakers, watch a short video or just have a free discussion of triumphs and challenges in a confidential and supportive setting.

For More Information or to Volunteer

Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Christie Truly, at (740) 594-8226 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .