To the Editor:

When a friend learned that I am a Cahaba Hospice volunteer, she said, “Oh, I couldn’t do that. I don’t like to nurse.”

Hospice volunteers do not nurse. We may sit with a patient while the caregiver runs an errand of one kind or another, or run an errand for them, but there are many other ways we can help.

We know how much a little gift can brighten the day of someone who is homebound, how much a plate of cookies can mean to a family that is probably overwhelmed with being the caregiver, how much just a card or note expressing compassion and love can mean. All of these things are very important for the success of the hospice program, and without the time and help provided by volunteers the program cannot succeed.

We, as volunteers, know that what we do has meaning to make the lives of others better, even if it’s just a little bit better. We know that we receive more than we give, because we are given the opportunity to practice love and compassion to others outside our own families.

There will be a Cahaba Hospice Training program on April 8 at the office at 410 Church St., beginning at 9 a.m. and your help will be most appreciated.

Christine R. Vaughan

Cahaba Hospice, Inc., volunteer