Volunteer Opportunities

BJC Hospice is always in need of adults and teens to donate their time.
Apply online or call:

St. Louis area -- 314.872.5050 
Farmington, Missouri -- 573.760.8550
Sullivan, Missouri -- 573.468.3630
Alton, Illinois -- 618.463.7100

Training is provided to volunteers, and focuses on the philosophy and goals of hospice and the role volunteers play as part of the hospice team. Training sessions are offered at our branch offices, and at faith and community centers throughout St. Louis. Sessions vary between 6 and 9 hours, and are offered over a two-day period six times a year. 

Patient Support Volunteers

Caregiver Relief/Patient Visitor
Caregiver relief volunteers visit patients at home so the caregiver can run errands, attend special events or get things done around the house
 
Nursing Home Visitor
Nursing home visitors provide companionship to hospice patients in nursing homes and contact the resident's family members to let them know about their visits 
 
Pediatric Patients/Families Visitor
Volunteer visitors provide a "day off" to parents of our at-home pediatric hospice patients. Teen volunteers care for the Hospice child or take the patient's siblings out of the house for a day
 
Hospital Patient Volunteer
When hospice patients are hospitalized for acute symptom management, volunteers visit the patient during the hospital stay

Non-Communicative Patient's Visitor
Some patients have declined in health to the point where they are unable to communicate, but they can benefit from volunteers who provide companionship by holding their hands, reading to them, or singing and playing music

Spiritual Care Volunteer
Volunteers are trained by the chaplains to provide spiritual care to patients; they read religious materials, pray with the patient, or discuss spiritual issues or questions

Phone Call Volunteer
Volunteers call patients or families to provide support while the patient is in hospice; they also make bereavement phone calls for the family after the death

Reading Volunteer
Volunteers visit patients in nursing homes to read newspapers, books and articles to them

Volunteer Tutor
Volunteers assist patients and families who are unable to speak English; they also tutor children and adults in specific school subjects

Lumina Life Story Writer
Lumina offers patients and their families the opportunity to preserve the stories, values, ideals, experiences and life lessons learned. The patient's memories and stories are gathered in bound journals, scrapbooks, memory boxes, letters to dear ones, video or videotaped statements. Interviews are conducted in the home by intensively trained BJC Hospice staff and volunteers, who recognize memories as treasures and disclosures as offerings to be honored.
 
Volunteer Scrapbooker/Artist
Volunteers help patients compile scrapbooks, letters and art to leave to the family as a keepsake
 
Volunteer Videographer
Volunteers visit the families with a social worker and compile a video with the patient to present as a gift to the family

Outings Volunteer
Volunteers drive patients, families and nursing home patients on errands and outings; teen volunteers take siblings and other children on day trips

Yardwork/Gardening Volunteer
Volunteers assist families by mowing, trimming bushes, pulling weeds, gardening, raking leaves and other yard chores

Volunteer Cook
Volunteers prepare dinner for a destitute family or an overwhelmed caregiver

Housekeeping Volunteer
Volunteers provide basic housekeeping to hospice families, such as dusting, vacuuming or washing dishes

Patient Transport Volunteer
Volunteers transport patients to and from the hospital, doctor's appointment, errands, and fulfill other transport needs

Errand Volunteer
Volunteers run errands for the caregiver and patient

PasSage Program Volunteer
PasSage volunteers sit vigil with the patients and families in the hours before death, providing support, companionship and education. For patients without family or friends, PasSage volunteers provide companionship to patients in the patient’s home, or in a hospital or nursing home setting.
Learn more >


Administration Volunteers

Office Volunteers
Volunteers perform office work -- data entry, faxing, filing, making copies, and assembling and mailing information packets
 
Ambassadors/Community Outreach Volunteers
Volunteers speak to families that are considering hospice; address volunteer orientations, health fairs and community groups about hospice care and volunteer opportunities
 

Fund-raising and Special Event Volunteers

Volunteers attend and staff events such as fund-raisers, Hospice Volunteer Symposium and Volunteer Day in Jefferson City; and "adopt" a hospice family in need of help during the holidays by collecting, sorting, and delivering food and gifts
 
Camps and Retreats Support
Volunteers are needed to staff bereavement events, camps and retreats

Labyrinth Retreat (Adolescents)
Labyrinth^SM is a semiannual retreat is for adolescents13-18 who are grieving the loss of a loved one; volunteers help set up at Camp Wyman, hang banners, assist with crafts and activities, or partner with staff members during the retreat
 
Stepping Stones Camp (Children)
Stepping Stones^SM is a weekend camp every August is for children 6-12 (usually 60 campers) who are grieving the loss of a loved one; volunteers prepare crafts, spend the weekend as a Cabin Buddy, or work with the set-up and tear-down crew
 
Weavings Retreat (Mothers)
The annual Weavings^SM retreat is for moms who have lost a child; volunteers staff the retreat, and create banners and crafts
 
Delivery Person (Truck Preferred)
Volunteers are needed to deliver supplies for retreats and camps; if the volunteer does not have a truck, he or she can obtain one to deliver the supplies to and from Camp Wyman
 
Supplies Shopper
Volunteers organize and shop for camp and retreat supplies
 

Bereavement Support Volunteers

• Volunteers provide bereavement support over the phone after the patient's death, and stay in touch for up to a year
• Volunteers prepare for the grief support groups, and help facilitate groups for siblings, parents, widows and children who have lost a loved one
• Volunteers provide frequent home visits to family members who desire companionship after the death of their loved one

  
Home-Based Volunteer Support

Opportunities are available for stay-at-home parents and those who prefer to work from home:

• Place phone calls to patients and families
• Write letters and coordinate mailings
• Create crafts, quilts and art projects