9/25/2014

Are you compassionate? Can you dedicate two evenings a month to help grieving children and their families? You can make a difference by volunteering at Home Nursing Agency’s Healing Patch: A Program for Loss and Hope for Grieving Children and Their Families.

Volunteers are the heart of the Healing Patch, which is a free peer support program for children of preschool age through 18 years. While volunteers must understand they are unable to “fix” what has happened, volunteers are able to help bring hope and healing back into the life of a child.

The Healing Patch serves families throughout the region from centers in Altoona and Ebensburg. Volunteers are currently needed for the Altoona Center, as more families have recently enrolled. Training begins Oct. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Altoona Healing Patch, 5416 Sixth Ave.

 “Some people think that it is a counseling session,” explains volunteer Robin Kutchman. “It is not counseling. A volunteer’s role is to be a peer supporter. A volunteer does not need a special degree or education because he/she is not telling the children how to feel or how to get through their grief and sorrow. As volunteers, we are listening to them. We are their ‘sounding board’.”

New volunteers have four training sessions before taking responsibilities at group meetings. After training is completed, the time commitment for volunteers is two evenings per month from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Volunteer roles include group facilitator, greeter and food server, and volunteers are also needed for sewing projects and special programs.

Healing Patch volunteers must be at least 21 years old. The application process must be complete to participate in the training that begins Oct. 21.

If you have a heart to help grieving children and families in your community, simply complete this volunteer application online or print this application and fill it out. If you have questions about becoming a volunteer, contact Melody Ray, Healing Patch Volunteer Coordinator, at 1-800-445-6262, ext. 7216.