By Capital Caring Health provides hospice, palliative care, and counseling services to veterans, the chronically and terminally ill, as well as their families. Through compassionate care, their clients can live lives with dignity while receiving additional support through difficult times.
This year has knocked a lot of people of their feet. People who may find themselves in a tough position, to begin with, are struggling to get the resources and services that could help. These virtual opportunities bring relief to those that need it.
Currently, volunteer opportunities offered range from crafting to check-ins to storytelling. Scroll through the list to see if one or more catch your eye. If it does, please contact volunteer specialist Shannon White at swhite@volunteerfairfax.org.
Background checks are required for all but the first opportunity.
Opportunities:
- Intermediate to master crafters needed
- During Military Recognition Ceremonies, veterans receive appreciation certifications and lapel pins. These crafter dolls, pictured above, are just an extra token to show your support for the troops.
- A pattern will be provided with requirements. While some uniform aspects of these dolls should remain consistent, volunteers can create dolls with different flesh tones to represent the diversity of veterans who have served this nation.
- Military Stories Discussion Leader Volunteer
- Volunteers with military experience, or those who have had immediate family members serve in the military, with the confidence to lead Zoom discussion to those who have served or who have had family members who have served.
- Time commitment: periodic one-hour long Zoom sessions. Prep time is required
- Educational seminars allow for Capital Care’s Heath associates and the veterans themselves to discuss open conversation topics that are relevant to them. Some examples of discussions include:
- Vietnam Era Veterans and any related topic the veterans would like to share.
- PTSD- What volunteers/staff can do to better understand and support those challenges.
- Military Stories- This range is unlimited. We encourage volunteers to find out from the participants what kind of stories they would like to hear and share; from friendships, lessons learned, difficult moments, successes. Volunteers should encourage veterans to share the stories that have been on their minds and in their hearts.
- Military Spouse/Family Journey- The opportunity for family members of service members to share how their stories are invaluable. From travels to the many other ways a family serves with the veteran, sharing their experiences can help everyone feel better united.
- Battle Buddies
- Time commitment: 1-2 hours a week, determined by patient and volunteer
- Battle buddies are veterans or active duty military volunteers who visit (currently virtually, at normal times- in person).
- Volunteers provide compassion and support.
- Many veterans seek to talk to other veterans because there is an immediate comfort and connection.
- Tuck-in Callers
- Time commitment: 2-3 hours a week. Generally, Wednesdays-Thursdays
- Volunteers “tuck in” (or check-in) once a week with patients and their family members.
- Volunteers are trained and provided a guide of questions needed to be asked. This helps ensure families and patients:
- Have the supplies they need to get through the weekend
- Everyone is comfortable
- Provide caregivers, who are usually family members with TLC
When people struggle, sometimes all they need is a hand to make their day just a little better.
