By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

ALABASTER–With various holidays just a few short months away, full-time staff members at SouthernCare New Beacon are seeking volunteers to help fill a variety of needs to work with patients and their families throughout Shelby County.

SouthernCare New Beacon Hospice Care Consultant Paige Landry and Volunteer Coordinator Ashlyn Moody said there’s an endless amount of opportunities available for those willing to serve in the coming weeks and months.

“Right now, I’m going to be honest, we’re desperate to find volunteers and supplies to shower our patients who are dying with love,” Landry said. “I feel like if people know how they can be a blessing and see just how many different areas we can use help, then they will be more willing to volunteer.”

SouthernCare New Beacon services Shelby, Bibb and Chilton counties with the greatest territory being Shelby since the office is housed in Alabaster.

A few areas where volunteers can serve includes patient/family support care, clerical, bereavement, resource and special projects.

The specific volunteer areas can include things like visiting a patient, preparing a meal, running errands, celebrating holidays or birthdays, helping with yard work and more.

“We desperately need volunteers,” Moody said. “They can do administrative work here in the office or they can do direct patient care, which means they would just be a companion for a patient where they can provide caregiver relief. Our caregivers are so stretched and they just need up to two hours just to go to the grocery store or just to have a break. We just want our volunteers to have a heart for the elderly and just to be their friend and talk to them.”

Moody began working as a volunteer coordinator with SouthernCare New Beacon in June and is trying to build a large base of volunteers as the holiday season approaches.

For those wishing to volunteer, there’s an orientation process and once that’s complete, the office will place them where they feel they can serve best.

“I would never place someone who says they love people in an office all day,” Moody said. “I want to place people where their heart is, and I think that’s super important.”

Moody said the office also accepts donations for anyone wishing to give monetarily.

“We also accept donations, so people can volunteer that way,” Moody said. “A lot of our patients, they’re just thrilled to get shampoo or deodorant or lotion or anything like that, so it definitely helps.”

To find out more about volunteer opportunities, call 620-3508 or email Moody at Ashlyn.ftl@gmail.com.

For more information on SouthernCare New Beacon, visit Newbeacon.org.