It's Volunteer Appreciation Week!

This week is National Volunteer Appreciation Week, and Hope Cancer Resources is joining dozens of other nonprofit organizations in our area who are thanking their volunteers for their service. We are fortunate to have dedicated volunteers working in our office, at our events, and with patients at Highlands Oncology Group clinics. We regularly receive thanks from patients and families to pass along to our volunteers. With a caring gesture or kind word, they make a vital difference in the lives of people going through one of the most stressful and frightening times of their lives. 

Our volunteers go through a training process that includes introduction to the Strengths Perspectives method of communicating in an emotional support setting. Strengths Based practice uses peoples' personal strengths to aid in recovery and empowerment. It's about reframing personal perception to find good even in the worst situation. The volunteers are also trained in "active listening", positive interactions and how to be supportive and encouraging in their contact with patients. Our volunteers act as an extension of our emotional support staff, and provide invaluable patient comfort to those undergoing cancer treatment in Northwest Arkansas.

But our volunteers are not only providing beneficial services to our patients, they are receiving benefits in return. In 2007 a publication called The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research found a significant connection between volunteering and good health. The report shows that volunteers have greater longevity, higher functional ability, lower rates of depression and less incidence of heart disease.  The report is available online here. 

Here's a video featuring volunteers Conjie Williams and Art Thrun, and Lisa Russell, a nurse at Highlands Oncology Group, sharing why they volunteer and the impact of their work:

One of our volunteers shared a personal story with us recently. She has worked with us for several years helping coordinate one of our special events. At that event, we provide statistics on the services we provide, we have patients share their stories, and we honor an individual making a difference in Northwest Arkansas cancer care. This volunteer has heard this information every year, but it wasn't until she started volunteering in our office that the impact we have on individuals battling cancer in our community really hit home. Through her tears, she shared her "lightbulb moment" and how much she appreciates being able to help us fulfill our mission of providing

compassionate, professional cancer support and education in the Northwest Arkansas region today and tomorrow.

As you can tell, we are proud of our volunteer corps. And in case you're wondering - we always have room for more. Bring a friend and join us for the next volunteer orientation meeting scheduled for April 19th. Learn more about our volunteer opportunities and how you can make a difference in only a few hours a month. Contact Christy Scarrow, Coordinator of Volunteer Services, at 479-361-5847 for more information.

Recognizing our Volunteers

On April 11 we celebrated our amazing volunteer "All Stars" and the work they do to help us accomplish our mission of providing compassionate, professional cancer support and education in the Northwest Region today and tomorrow. We served hot dogs and hamburgers and fixin's provided by Arvest Bank, a "home run" of a cake made by Rick's Bakery in Fayetteville, and handed out some certificates and cooler bags as tokens of our HUGE appreciation for all the support they have given us over the past year.

We have 212 volunteers in our program who, together over the last 12 months, have provided 4,398 hours

of service to our patients and staff at a value of $138,118.00.

That is a ridiculous number of hours! It adds up to just under 37 weeks of volunteer time!! Wow. We are so humbled by that kind of dedication. And we are immensely grateful for all that our volunteers do... they make our events more exciting, our patients feel a little more comfortable and cared for, and our work more efficient. In short, they support us... so that we can make a difference in the lives of as many people in Northwest Arkansas as possible.  

We can't do what we do without them.

Giving back... it doesn't have to involve your checkbook.

Like any other non-profit organization, we rely heavily on the financial contributions of our community. We ask for donations, we hold fundraisers, we write grants... all those things play a vital role in keeping our services and programs moving forward and growing to meet the needs of cancer patients and the citizens of Northwest Arkansas.

But, money is not all we need to support our mission - to provide compassionate, professional cancer support and education in the Northwest Arkansas region today and tomorrow. Sometimes we need extra bodies and hands to help us make things happen.

For this reason, we have a volunteer program in place to recruit, train, and communicate with folks who want to help us be successful. Many of them are cancer survivors themselves, or have seen our work in clinics first-hand as caregivers or friends of cancer patients. They, like our paid staff, are passionate about doing something to make the journey cancer patients and their loved ones are on just a little bit easier.

There are many ways to get involved - it really just depends on the time and energy available on your end. You let us know what you would like to do, and we will find a way to let you help! Some options include:

"Been There" - The volunteers in this program are all cancer survivors who are interested in walking down that road again, this time as a support for someone else dealing with the same diagnosis. For a new cancer patient, having the ear of sometime who has experienced the same questions and feelings can be incredibly helpful. Open to any cancer survivor. Background checks and special training is required.

 
In Clinic - At Highlands Oncology Group our volunteers lend their time to assist patients with comfort care, enhance hospitality efforts, and support the clinic staff as directed and appropriate. Volunteers must have daytime availability and be at least 18 years of age. Background checks and special training is required.

Administrative & Outreach - We are happy to welcome volunteers in our office to assist with filing, answering phones, processing mailings, organizing, data entry, etc. around the Hope Cancer Resources office. Volunteers can also represent us at volunteer or health fairs, staff information tables at special events, and assist with other outreach efforts. We offer a fun atmosphere and the reward of supporting our programs in very necessary ways. Volunteers must have daytime availability. Background checks and orientation required.

Special Event Committees - We present two major fundraising events each year to help spread the word about what we do and raise funds to support our programs, and we need lots of hands on deck to make them happen. Our committee members help plan and execute our events, assist with the solicitation of sponsors, help gather door prizes and silent auction items, and generally spread the word about the event to their friends. Background checks and orientation required.

Episodic or One-time - We are happy to find something for you to do if you or your group only have a couple of hours to offer. We welcome help when we have a large mailing to get out, or need help with our screenings and special events. No long-term commitment required!

Professional "Pro-Bono" Services - We employ professional licensed social workers and registered nurses to carry out our programs. We engage volunteers with these or related professional designations and related experience who are willing to donate their time to be a part of our service delivery teams. Orientation and background check required, other training to be determined by volunteer role.

Third-Party Fundraising - This is one way for you to volunteer your time and energy and provide a donation at the same time! Many civic and community groups choose local non-profits to benefit from their special events. Some retail or food-service businesses will donate a percentage of their sales to a local charity. Other ideas are yard sales, bake sales, and chili suppers. We are happy to provide informational materials and publicity through our social media outlets and community contacts whenever we know about these kinds of events. We're honored by your willingness to support cancer patients in Northwest Arkansas!

So, as you can see, you don't need any special talents to be able to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients in Northwest Arkansas. The only requirement is a desire to help.

Our next volunteer orientation is scheduled for November 18 at 5:30 p.m. For more information about volunteer opportunities or to get on the list for the orientation, contact Christy Scarrow by email or at 479-361-5847. We look forward to meeting you!

Been There, Done That...

Imagine that you have recently been diagnosed with cancer and you have noticed that your usually close friends are starting to become infrequent acquaintances.  What if your friends and family seem to expect you to remain upbeat and optimistic, but you are not feeling that way?  Or what if you feel like you've leaned on them so much already... you just can't burden them anymore with your sometimes obsessive need to talk about your diagnosis.

For a cancer patient just starting down the road through treatments to recovery, it's helpful to talk to a compassionate and professional social worker who has the ability to calm your fears and explain what's to come.  Our social workers and patient assistance programs are an important part of what we do at Hope Cancer Resources and, for many patients, they are enough.  But sometimes a patient benefits even more from sharing their experience with someone who has already been through it themselves.  That's when our "Been There" volunteer program can become an additional resource.

"Been There" is a local network of cancer survivors who volunteer to offer their time and an understanding ear for newly diagnosed cancer patients.  Because each volunteer is a survivor, they probably experienced similar feelings and had some of the same questions and concerns during their own cancer journey.  The program provides an outlet for the patient to express all of their emotions - even negative ones -  without fear of upsetting loved-ones and caregivers.  The volunteers are available to help with non-medical questions using layman's terms, and conversations are kept strictly confidential.

The program is managed by one of our licensed social workers, Christy Scarrow, who manages our volunteer programs.  Christy matches patients who request the service with a volunteer who has a close match to their diagnosis or personal situation (single parent, elderly, etc...).  

If you know someone who might benefit from this service, or are interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Christy at 479-361-5847 for more information.

Calling All Volunteers!

This Thursday we will have an open orientation session for anyone who is interested in finding out more about our volunteer opportunities. It begins at 5:30 p.m. and will be held at our office - 5835 W. Sunset in Springdale. There are opportunities for everyone that range from being a helping-hand and friendly face as patients go through their treatments, to participating in the planning and execution of fundraising events. Check out the list below (taken from our website) and contact Cindy Bilyeu for more information by email, or at 479.361.5847.

" Been There" Volunteers
 A special group comprised of cancer survivors who are available to provide emotional and practical support for other cancer patients. Volunteers are screened and matched with patients who request to speak to a survivor. Open to any cancer survivor. Background checks and special training is required. 

Clinic Volunteers
Through our partnership with Highlands Oncology Group, we staff their clinics with volunteer support. Roles are available in the chemotherapy suites, radiation clinics, imaging department and other areas. Tasks involve administrative, patient and clinic staff support. Volunteers must have daytime availability and be at least 18 years of age. Background checks and special training is required.
 
Special Event Committees
Hope Cancer Resources has several special events each year to help spread the word about what we do and raise funds to support our programs. Currently we have the Bill Fleeman Gentleman of Distinction Fashion show (a formal gala event) and the Heather Ridley Fleeman Battle for Hope  (5K, 10K, family fun walk). We rely heavily on dedicated volunteers to help us plan and execute these events. Background checks and orientation required.

Professional “Pro Bono” Services
We employ professional licensed social workers and registered nurses to carry out our programs. We engage volunteers with these or related professional designations and related experience who are willing to donate their time to be a part of our service delivery teams. Orientation and background check required, other training to be determined by volunteer role.

Administrative & Outreach Volunteers
Help us with filing, answering phones, processing mailings, organizing, data entry, etc. around the Hope Cancer Resources office. Volunteers can also represent Hope Cancer Resources at volunteer or health fairs, staffing information tables at special events, and other outreach efforts. We offer a fun atmosphere and the reward of supporting our programs in very necessary ways. Volunteers must have daytime availability. Background checks and orientation required.

Episodic or One Time Volunteers
Can you staff a water station at our race? Help us set up the room for Gentlemen of Distinction? Do you have a group that could help us complete special projects such as large mailings or clean up/repair to our office or equipment? No long term commitment required.

Third-Party Fundraising Volunteers
Can you conduct a penny drive at your school? Are you willing to donate a portion of your business sales to Hope Cancer Resources? We are honored by your generosity and willingness to support cancer patients in Northwest Arkansas. Please contact us so we can provide you with more information.