Volunteering
At CHCC, volunteers of all ages – from seniors to students – make a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents. By sharing your time and positive energy, you’ll help brighten someone’s day and create moments of joy.
When you volunteer, the connections you make and the smiles you bring will have a lasting impact. Your kindness will not only enrich the lives of others, but it will also bring fulfillment to you.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Click the accordions below to learn about various volunteer opportunities at CHCC.
General volunteer opportunities at CHCC
The following is a list of volunteer opportunities at Christian Health Care Center. Please contact our therapeutic recreation department if you would like to help in these areas or suggest something new.
Entertainment
- Piano player for hymn sings and religious services
- Guest speakers
- Individual or group vocalists
- Share a slide show
- Variety program
- History narrator: ride along with our staff and residents, share local history, fun facts and your mememories of Whatcom County during an hourlong scenic drive (typically at 3 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month)
General
- Friendly visitor for one-on-one visits with residents
- Inter-generational activities
- Write a letter for residents
- Pet visits
- Therapeutic recreation staff assistant
Crafts and Games
- Craft leader or assistant
- Play a board game (bingo, cards, cribbage, checkers, chess)
- Seasonal watering and weeding/gardening projects
Spiritual
- Devotions leader
- Worship service leader
Sacred Transitions: creating a peaceful environment during a resident’s final hours
The goal of the Sacred Transitions program is to seat a specially trained volunteer alongside a resident during their final hours to ensure that nobody dies alone, except by choice.
Sacred Transitions volunteers are special people. They are calm, patient and kind. They work alongside CHCC staff members to make sure that every person’s end of life journey is filled with peace, comfort and grace. We get one chance to do this for a resident, and it is a privilege to serve them during this important life transition.
Volunteering in this role can take a number of forms: perhaps you will sit quietly by, just being present. Perhaps you will keep soft music playing, pray or read. Perhaps you will listen, talk or reminisce with the resident.
CHCC maintains a list of local citizens and faith leaders who would like to give back in this way — sitting in vigil as a life ends. You will be trained by CHCC staff before any assignment. We also provide a list of things to say and do to make this process easier; you can find that here.
Once approved for the program, you will be contacted as needs arise.
If you would like to volunteer for this purposeful role, call 360-354-4434 to speak with our volunteer coordinator, Michele Rogan. You will also need to fill out and turn in the three documents linked at the bottom of this webpage.
What sounds good to you? Would you like to help a senior write letters to their family? Do you play the piano? Do you have a craft or travel experience you’d like to share? Would you like to adopt a grandparent and visit them each week? The options are endless; we’ll customize a volunteer plan that fits your needs and the needs of our wonderful residents.
Sign up to be a volunteer
When you are ready to begin, simply call 360-354-4434 to speak with our volunteer coordinator, Michele Rogan. You will also need to read the Volunteer Handbook and fill out and turn in three documents, available here or at the front desk:
COVID-19 vaccination is recommended but not required.