If Forrest Gump were observing what
goes on at Hospice House, he might say that volunteering was like a box of chocolates. You never
know what you’ll find.
Paul Kerekes came from across the street when they first broke
ground
to start building the Hospice House. “I saw the article
that they
needed volunteers, I applied and they accepted me,” said Paul.
“I’ve
been here ever since.” He likes to take care of the
grounds and do
things around the house. In the winter, Paul shovels the
walks and
clears snow from the deck. Summer involves lawn mowing and
trimming
shrubs.
Paul also finds satisfaction in his work delivering equipment to
patients’ homes. “It’s quite satisfying to see I’m
helping someone in
need who is just anxious to get this equipment,” Paul said.
“They are
so thankful. It makes you feel good that you are helping
someone.”
In the course of working at Hospice House, Paul met Barbara, the
lady
who later became his wife. Barbara Armstead, who had lost
her husband
to cancer several years before, began volunteering in the area
of
patient care at Hospice House shortly after it opened.
“That’s my
thing,” Barbara said. “I know how important it is just
to have someone
to talk to.” Barbara said she has always felt a desire
to volunteer.
“I’d always been involved in my children’s schools. I
volunteer at the
hospital,” she said. “It’s something I need to do,
to reach out and
help others.”
Barbara says she remembers from her experience of loss how
important
it is for everyone involved, patient, family and friends, to
have
someone available to just listen. “Sometimes we forget
that we’re
there for the families, too,” she said. “They need a
listening ear.
That is as important as anything we do. We need to listen.”
Paul’s and Barbara’s work has not gone unrecognized.
On August 9, at
the Hospice picnic Paul and Barbara were distinguished as the
Eaton
Community Hospice “Volunteers of the Year”. While they
were happy to
be recognized, Barbara and Paul said they are well aware of the
many
others whose volunteerism helps make the Eaton Community Hospice
mission a success.
Besides keeping the Hospice House in top condition and dealing
directly with patients, there are a huge number of tasks that
have to
happen behind the scenes for the program to run smoothly.
“Not everybody can work with dying patients, Barbara said.
“We need
all kinds of volunteers.” People are needed in the
thrift shop. The
office needs to function – the large mailings do not just
happen by
themselves. Sometimes we have an awful lot of laundry,”
Barbara
pointed out. “Hospice needs people to visit in the
homes. If they can
talk with people they can be a great help. It’s not just
a matter of
being able to work with patients. There are more volunteer needs
than
what people may think.” |
