Sakura House Volunteer Program

Volunteering helps build a better Sakura House.

Sakura House volunteers are involved in many aspects of hospice support. Our volunteers are dedicated community members who offer a variety of skills. Many are family members and friends of past Sakura House patients. Volunteering can help you gain valuable new skills and experiences, and simply put, volunteering makes you feel good!

Our volunteer program runs 3 shifts daily 7 days a week for each of our main roles.

A shift 8am to 12pm, B shift 12pm to 4pm, C shift 4pm to 8pm, Hours can be flexible.

The creation of a warm and caring ambience while maintaining safety is crucial at all times

Greeter Volunteer

The Entrance and Greeter-Receptionist area form the first impressions of Sakura House. This is also the “Hub of Communications” for the hospice and particularly the volunteer team.

Responsibilities include:

  • Creating a welcoming atmosphere, maintaining a tidy entrance and library space,

  • Welcoming and screening visitors at the entrance and showing visitors to the appropriate room,

  • Answering the phone and directing calls,

  • Record keeping,

  • Accepting donations and forwarding them on to our fund development team,

  • Assisting visitors with our grief and support library,

  • Coordinating the honour guard process for death of patient.

Kitchen Volunteer

(Safe Food Handling course required)

The Kitchen’s first impression makes Sakura House a home. 
This is also the “Heart of Sakura House” for the Families, Visitors, Staff and Volunteers.

Responsibilities include:

  • Creating a welcoming atmosphere for patients, visitors, staff and volunteers,

  • Work as a team with the cook

  • Meal preparation assistance, soup preparation assistance Baking

  • Record keeping, the Sakura House kitchen is a public health inspected kitchen, temperature records are mandatory,

  • Cleaning and sanitizing, following Public Health guidelines, Following Sakura House procedures and policies,

  • Food storage, rotating supplies, checking expiry dates,

  • Maintaining the coffee and tea station and baking self serve areas.

Patient Care Assistant (PCA)

(Fundamentals of Palliative Care course or equivalent required).

PCAs are a vital part of our Palliative Care Team. The Patient wing is the “Hub of Support” for the Hospice.

Responsibilities include:

  • Create a welcoming atmosphere using a calm and friendly approach, Patient needs are the first priority, quiet music or TV can be played,

  • Physical care and comfort measures including hand massage and assisting nursing staff,

  • Offer emotional/ social support, holding patient’s hand,

  • Record keeping,

  • Cleaning and sanitizing Bed table tray, personal hand hygiene is important,

  • Meal time is a social time, visiting while setting up the patient’s meal may help relax the patient and enhance the meal experience, communicate with kitchen, feed or assist the patient with his/her meal,

  • Legacy activities at the bedside are an invitation for people at end of life to reminisce and share stories about who they are and what they have experienced during their lifetime.

We are always interested in bringing a volunteer’s special skills to our families.

Our volunteer team includes skilled individuals who offer: Floral services, Maintenance, Grocery shopping, Musicians, Library organization, Filling bird feeders, Vegetable garden, Gardening, Administration Support, Spiritual Support and Complimentary Therapies.

We can help you fulfill your volunteering goals.

Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at Sakura House for information on how to become a volunteer: 519-537-8515 ext. 1022