[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Volunteers at HopeWest play a special role in supporting individuals and families facing the challenges of aging, illness, and grief. Their dedication contributes to the exceptional care provided across western Colorado and strengthens HopeWest\u2019s ability to serve with compassion and excellence.<\/p>\n
In 2025 alone, 1,085 active volunteers contributed an extraordinary 80,417 hours of service collectively across all service areas. This is equivalent to 49 full-time employees and a remarkable $2.8 million in value for time and cost savings.<\/strong><\/p>\n “Volunteerism makes HopeWest so special,” said Lisa Ortner, director of volunteer services at HopeWest “One of the greatest gifts you can give is your time, and we are so grateful to our volunteers who do just that. Only with their help can we have the resources to provide the type of care we all want for our family, friends, and neighbors.”<\/p>\n Volunteer talents enrich every HopeWest program, helping fulfill our promise to deliver care that goes above and beyond basic standards, making each experience meaningful and memorable for those served. As essential members of the HopeWest team, volunteers support patients, clients, participants, families, and teammates in many ways.<\/p>\n Volunteers provide respite for caregivers, offer companionship to children and teens attending summer grief camps, assist with gardening at the HopeWest Ferris Hospice Care Center, support special events, and serve at the Heirlooms for Hospice upscale resale store, where proceeds benefit HopeWest programs. Others share hobbies and skills such as sewing and baking for those in our programs. Some choose to offer their time playing games or crafting with PACE participants at the Day Center. No matter their interests or how they serve, the contributions of our volunteers make a difference every day.<\/p>\n Wendel McConnell says volunteering has always been part of who he is. As a child, that meant doing yard work for elderly neighbors or serving others through his church. When he was younger, Wendel admits he believed \u201cdying was for old people.\u201d But life experiences changed that perspective.<\/p>\n After experiencing several personal losses and walking through his own grief journey, Wendel knew he wanted to help others through theirs. He recalls the first grief support group he attended through HopeWest after losing his mother. In that group sat an elderly man, a woman in her twenties, and Wendel in his forties, all grieving different losses at different stages of life.<\/p>\n \u201cYou find common ground where you can get support from other people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Wendel now volunteers wherever there is a need such as loading trucks for events, visiting patients who don\u2019t have loved ones nearby, and more. But his favorite volunteer role, inspired by his own grief experiences, is serving as a buddy at Camp Good Grief, a summer camp for children who have lost someone close to them.<\/p>\n \u201cTo see their openness about their experience, maybe even more so than adults, had a profound effect on me,\u201d said Wendel.<\/p>\n Wendel says that while he hopes to help children with their grief journeys and equip them with tools to navigate loss, he has learned just as much along the way.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m here to serve with empathy and love and comfort,\u201d Wendel said. \u201cNo judgment, just love. That\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n He also encourages the next generation to get involved in volunteering, something he believes is an important lifelong value.<\/p>\n \u201cYou always wonder if you\u2019re doing or saying the right thing. But there are plenty of resources here to help us. If I have a question, there\u2019s always someone to support you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”6px” header_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”Montserrat|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#008b95″ header_3_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||11px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.hopewestco.org\/volunteer\/” button_text=”Learn More About volunteering at hopewest” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”18px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#19315a” button_border_width=”7px” button_border_color=”#19315a” button_border_radius=”23px” button_letter_spacing=”3px” button_font=”Oswald||||||||” button_use_icon=”off” custom_margin=”1px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_bg_color__hover=”#f4a327″ button_border_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_border_color__hover=”#f4a327″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#df6c02″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” header_3_text_align=”center” header_3_text_color=”#008b95″ header_3_line_height=”1.4em” header_4_font=”–et_global_body_font|||on|||||” header_4_text_align=”center” header_4_text_color=”#bcbcbc” header_4_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#df6c02″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Suggested Blog Posts: Testimonials” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”7px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” global_module=”241366″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”6px” header_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”Montserrat|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#008b95″ header_3_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||13px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blog fullwidth=”off” posts_number=”4″ include_categories=”3843″ excerpt_length=”50″ show_more=”on” show_author=”off” show_categories=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_font_size=”22px” header_line_height=”1.5em” meta_font=”||||||||” meta_font_size=”14px” meta_line_height=”1.4em” read_more_text_color=”#df6c02″ pagination_font=”–et_global_body_font|700|||||||” pagination_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.42)” pagination_font_size=”17px” pagination_line_height=”1.6em” dbdb_show_tags=”on” border_radii=”on|9px|9px|9px|9px” border_width_all=”0px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_blog][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Volunteers at HopeWest play a special role in supporting individuals and families facing the challenges of aging, illness, and grief. Their dedication contributes to the exceptional care provided across western […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":240047,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_searchwp_excluded":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3843],"tags":[5646,5671],"class_list":["post-240046","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-testimonials","tag-about-hopewest","tag-volunteers"],"yoast_head":"\nYou too can become a HopeWest volunteer and help people in your community.<\/h3>\n
“Volunteerism makes HopeWest so special. One of the greatest gifts you can give is your time, and we are so grateful to our volunteers who do just that. Only with their help can we have the resources to provide the type of care we all want for our family, friends, and neighbors.”<\/h3>\n
<\/h4>\n
Lisa Ortner, Director of Volunteer Services at HopeWest<\/h4>\n
Suggested Reading<\/h3>\n