Become a Serious Illness Program Volunteer
Serious Illness Program Volunteer Trainings Starts October 17
Do you have a passion for helping people and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others? This is your chance to get involved. The Serious Illness Program launched last year and has already been part of the lives of over 50 participants. We need your help to keep this program going!
The Serious Illness Program (SIP) is beginning training for new volunteers on Friday, October 17. This is another wonderful opportunity to get to know and support fellow community members in a real and meaningful way.
In these trying times, compassion and connection is vital. Becoming a volunteer is an opportunity to meet people and to help build mutually beneficial relationships. As volunteers we are companions to those going through a life-changing illness, and we know that we may be in need of companionship in the future, and in this way we are strengthening our community and our network of support.
One of the many gifts of the training is realizing that what is learned there applies in many aspects of life. As one of the volunteers recently said, “This training is a two-way street. Not only do you learn skills and resources that are helpful to others…those same skills and resources may be of help to you, your family and your friends in the future”.
The Serious Illness Program offers short term, one-on-one support, as well as peer support groups and other activities to people with a serious illness that may or may not carry an impending terminal diagnosis.
Volunteer services consist of spending time one-on-one with SIP participants, or being trained to facilitate one of the very popular support groups, or to use their skills and talents to create other offerings in the program such as book clubs, art groups, and more. No prior experience is needed. Just a compassionate and willing heart!
“I really enjoyed our training session for the Serious Illness Program! It was informative and thought-provoking with enjoyable and invigorating activities and readings, and I loved the interactions with the other members of the group, including our two mentors.” - Current SIP Volunteer
This is a 24-hour training over 8 weeks with an additional hour or so of home-based prep work each week. We will meet at the Center for Solace office at 191 Canal Street. We understand there may be a need to miss a session and we are happy to work with you to get you caught up on the material we covered.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, or would like more information please contact Eileen Glover, Serious Illness Program Coordinator, at eileen.glover@cfsolace.org, or call 802-257-0775 ext. 106, or click this link to apply: SIP Volunteer Application.