ESCANABA – OSF Hospice is looking for caring and compassionate volunteers who would be interested in visiting with terminally-ill patients and their families, running errands, providing rest for caregivers or being a loving presence.

Ilene Kotajarvi, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator at OSF Home Care Services said they are looking for volunteers who love people.

“I always say hospice volunteering is a calling,” Kotajarvi said. “I have found that people who come in just to learn more about the program and might be a little hesitate tend to be the best volunteers.”

Kotajarvi says being a hospice volunteer means being a friend and helping the family out.

Judy Djerf of Wells says it doesn’t talk much time to volunteer. She started volunteering in 2009.

“Mostly, my experience has been just sitting and spending time with the hospice patient, reading to them, maybe fixing them a snack, things like that. Just to be there when their caregiver has errands to do or appointments to keep,” Djerf said.

Djerf said she finds volunteering at hospice to be rewarding.

A meeting to discuss needed criteria for hospice volunteers will be held Tuesday, Sept. 10, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the second floor conference rooms at OSF St. Francis Hospital. A two-day training for new volunteers will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, September 24 and 25, from 2 to 5 p.m. each day in the Hospital second floor conference rooms.

For more information, call Kotajarvi at 786-3915.