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Hospice of Michigan looking for veterans to volunteer

ALPENA – Hospice of Michigan is always looking for volunteers.

Currently, they are looking for extra special kinds of volunteers — veterans.

Before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hospice of Michigan was setting up training classes for a group of veterans recruited through an outreach to the community, according to Kathy Lietaert, regional program manager of the north region.

“Then, the pandemic hit and the veteran training class schedule never took place,” said Lietaert. “We have lost volunteers over the past two years and have barely recruited. We really need to vamp up recruiting this year.”

Lietaert said that they recruited about 10 new volunteers per year, in a normal year, pre-COVID-19 and she would like to double that this year.

Lietaert said that many Hospice patients are veterans. Some veterans only feel comfortable talking to other veterans, and that could make a real difference for them in dealing with the issues they face at the end of their lives, she said.

Lietaert explained that the volunteers perform no physical care, but rather provide companionship.

“There is no pay, but your heart will get full,” said Lietaert.

Vickie Fields, of Presque Isle, has been a Hospice of Michigan volunteer since 2006.

Fields said that there are lots of things that volunteers do with Hospice of Michigan patients, including talking, reading, and just being there for someone to talk about things that they may not feel comfortable telling their family but need to get off their chest.

Some people think that a hospice patient is only a hospice patient for a very short time. Fields said that is not always the case.

“One important thing to know is that they are not necessarily dying,” said Fields. “Sometimes, they get better and stay my companion for years.”

People volunteer for all sorts of reasons.

“I just decided that I wasn’t working as much and I needed to fill my time,” said Fields. “I really like that it is a non-profit organization, and it was just a good fit for me.”

Fields said that she is there for the long term, and her clients look forward to seeing her.

“It makes me feel good to make someone else feel good,” Fields stated. “I enjoy helping people in the community in their time of need, and a lot of it is just listening.”

Fields said that, as a volunteer, she makes recordings of her “her people” for their families.

“We put their voice on a CD,” said Fields. “Sometimes it’s a song or a story to be played at the person’s funeral.”

Fields said that it is a very nice way to form a long-term memory for the families.

“We can leave a little bit of legacy for babies in the family that will, maybe, not remember grandma or grandpa,” said Fields. “But, a lot of it is just listening.”

Fields says that when a client does pass away, she attends the funeral and supports the family.

Kristie Lukes, volunteer program coordinator for Hospice of Michigan, is located in Alpena and is hoping to recruit as many volunteers as she can.

Lietaert said that she is hoping to begin the veteran volunteer classes again, but anyone that has some time to spare and is interested in making a difference in the life of another community member should contact Lukes at klukes@hom.org.

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