How to Become a Volunteer
What do volunteers do?
The positions that we require the most are the Client volunteers. Volunteers offer weekly support and companionship in the client’s home.
Volunteer opportunities
Heart House Hospice offers many rewarding volunteering opportunities.
All volunteers are screened and placed according to their interest. Client-volunteers such as in-home, day program, transportation, and spiritual care are required to pass the screening process and 30 hours training before they become volunteers.
In-home volunteers - work directly with individuals and their families facing a life threatening illness. Volunteers provide weekly visits offering companionship, comfort care, emotional and spiritual support and respite to caregivers.
Day program volunteers - work directly with clients attending the day program. They support clients by assisting with social and therapeutic activities under the direction of the Day Program Coordinator.
Transportation volunteers - provide transportation to these clients attending the Day Program every Wednesday afternoon.
Spiritual Care Volunteers - Spiritual Care Volunteers are specially trained and supervised to offer spiritual care to clients and their families by listening, clarifying and sharing your journey. They focus on the key concepts of spirituality; making sense of situations, deriving purpose, values, beliefs, transcendence, experience, awareness, connection with self and others, and reflection and experience on becoming who one is and how one knows.
Office volunteers - assist our administration staff with filing, reception, photocopying, data entry and other office duties. The time commitment is 2-4 hours a week during regular office hours.
Fundraising and Special Event Volunteers
Many volunteers share their time and talents to assist with fundraising events, activities and projects. Ongoing participation is always needed to raise the necessary funds to allow Heart House Hospice to continue to provide our services to those in need in the community.
Fundraiser committee members - are wonderful people who are part of the planning of each of our three annual signature events and they are looking for your help! Let's talk about how you could give your time as a business professional or active community member to help mobilize your network and help make these community events a success.
Fundraising volunteers - assist the Resource Department and committee members in providing the community with the opportunity to discover the joy of giving through their contributions and investments. Heart House Hospice is looking for fundraising volunteers to assist in providing seasonal support in event development.
Volunteering for Special Events - offers an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to volunteer on an occasional basis. Heart House Hospice has a variety of great signature and community awareness events during the year such as the hike, golf tournament and soiree that require the commitment of interested individuals looking to assist in a hands on capacity at the event.
Contact Alexandra McKenna, Coordinator of Volunteers at
905-712-8119 x 223 or via e-mail:
amckenna@hearthousehospice.com and she will help you discover the privilege and rewarding opportunity of being a part of the team that helps support so many.
How to become a volunteer at Heart House Hospice
Common Questions about becoming a volunteer
What kind of commitment do I have to make?
Direct service volunteers who are 18 and over who can give us 3 hours a week for a minimum of one year.
In-direct volunteers such as office work, special events, committee work and board members have more flexibility in the kind of commitment that is required.
What volunteer placements are available?
Our greatest need for volunteers occur during regular business hours Monday to Friday. Most of our placements are working directly with our clients in our in home service and day program. We do have some seasonal/occasional positions such as special event and fundraising volunteers on evenings and some weekends. Board members and committee members will be selected based on experience and need.
Screening Process
- Complete an Application Form
- Attend an interview with Director of Volunteer Resources
- Submit a Police Check
- Submit Reference Check
- Matching of volunteer skills with roles available for Non direct serve volunteers such as Administration roles, special events, committee or board members
- Attend 30 hour training if working in areas of direct service with our clients
- Post training interview for direct service volunteers
Please contact Alexandra McKenna, our Coordinator of Volunteers to book an appointment for an interview. You can email, mail, drop off, or fax the information.
Address: Heart House Hospice, 855 Matheson Blvd. East, Unit #1, Mississauga, ON L4W 4L6
Phone: 905-712-8119 x 223
Fax: 905-712-4029
Heart House Hospice reserves the right to refuse volunteers.
Want a head start in the volunteer process?
Download our volunteer forms so that you can fill them out and send them back to us!
Volunteer Application Form
Benefits of volunteering for Heart House Hospice
"Life is not about me, but finding ways for someone else to have a better day"
Roberta - Volunteer
"Nothing really can take the place of the moments when one can bring a ray of sunshine into someone else’s life Volunteer, especially when the gift is in sharing their last moments with you"
Rami - Volunteer
As a hospice volunteer, you will:
- Learn and develop new skills
- you will make a meaningful difference in your community
- Expand your networks
- Gain new experiences
- we provide volunteers with a privileged and rewarded opportunity to be part of a heart-touching experience during a person’s end-of-life journey
Heart House Hospice could not function without the vital involvement of our volunteers, therefore we are committed to provide resources to manage and respect the commitment of our volunteers.
Hospice will provide:
- Professional development on regular basis
- Meaningful assignments
- On-going support and mentoring
- Appreciation and recognition
We provide volunteers with a privileged and rewarding opportunity to be part of a heart touching experience during a person’s end-of-life journey.
Questions?
Contact: Alexandra McKenna
Coordinator of Volunteers
905-712-8119 x 223
amckenna@hearthousehospice.com