Community Engagement Research Paper

I would like to share with you the beginning of my experience with volunteering at Shalom East. I will be working in the hospice center and visiting with the patients in their last moments of their life. This is not going to be an easy job for me but when I found out about the opportunity I knew it was something I needed to do. I have a large heart and feel compelled to give what I can to perfect strangers in their time of need. I would want someone to do the same for me. In my Civic Engagement Class one Monday night our speaker Michelle was talking about some of the volunteer opportunities she has engaged in. One of them was a hospice volunteer. It immediately struck me as something I would like to be involved in. The previous semester I took a course on Thanatology and Widowhood. It seemed to fit into something I would feel comfortable doing. I did some online research and found Shalom Homes and sent an email. I spoke on the phone with Patricia Grans and went in for a one on one interview. When I arrived I was taken back by how homey and comfortable the facility was. My last experience in a nursing home was about 20 years ago and it was …show more content…
I am patiently waiting. So far this experience has heled me to decide what path I want to take with my career. I want to get into grief counselling and work in a long term care facility or hospice center. Dying is something that happens to everyone and it can be a very lonely and scary experience. We are there to take away the fear and give comfort. For me it is important that I give of myself to those in their time of need. Doing what I can to help someone and ease the pain of family and friends. Shalom is an amazing place and their approach to hospice care. I feel blessed that I found this opportunity and where it will take me. I can see myself working with Shalom on various levels for years to come. Thank you Shalom for letting me be a part of the