Volunteers needed at Hospice Wairarapa

Volunteers are needed at Hospice Wairarapa to help transport patients to and from hospice services and to work with the Hospice Shop. FILE PHOTO

Hospice Wairarapa is calling for more volunteers to help with transporting patients to and from Hospice services and to work with the Hospice Shop, assisting with pick-ups and deliveries.

Volunteer services manager Chris Wills said orientation would be provided, as well as ongoing training and support to all new volunteers.

"I am always happy to talk with any prospective volunteer and look to place them in an area of work utilising their individual skills, availability and interests."

Hospice Wairarapa has 150 volunteers who work in the retail operations and in the services that Hospice provide for patients and families.

The retail operations are the Hospice Shop on the corner of Queen St and Park St, and the weekly garage sale, held Saturdays 9-11am at the Hospice base 59 Renall St, Masterton.

Services offered by Wairarapa Hospice include patient and family support in the home, offering companionship and giving the carer an opportunity to run errands, bereavement support and library services.

Other positions include biography team volunteers, who record and write life stories for patients, programme volunteers, who help with day programmes that run for palliative patients providing a day out in the company of others "who really understand and care", and precious memories photography, where volunteers create lasting memories through photography for patients and families.

"Our volunteers are just ordinary people with extraordinary hearts, they offer the gift of their time," said Mrs Wills.

The average hours given by volunteers exceeded 1250 hours every month, she said.

Mrs Wills said all volunteers were "valued and treasured".

A Vintage High Tea will be held in Carterton on Sunday, December 6, with all proceeds going to Hospice Wairarapa.

Tickets, which include a welcome drink, high tea and 3 raffle entries, are $40 and can be purchased from the Hospice or Hospice Shop.