SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY. VOLUNTEER WITH VNA.
What Our Volunteers Do
Our VNA Volunteers provide comfort and companionship to patients and much-needed caregiver breaks to family members.
Our volunteers donate over 1,000 hours of service to support patients, families, and staff each year. Specialty visits include massage therapy, haircuts, pet therapy, and finance advice.
Our Opportunities
Learn more about the volunteer opportunities Central Coast VNA & Hospice offers
PET THERAPY
Pet therapy offers comfort, joy, and connection through visits from specially trained animals. These visits can help reduce stress, ease anxiety, and enhance overall well-being.
Weekly Flower Delivery
Fresh flowers donated by Second Bloom Flowers are delivered each week, bringing moments of beauty, joy, and connection into patients’ homes.
Music Therapy
Music therapy can reduce stress and anxiety while supporting brain health through listening to and creating music.
Beautician Services (Haircuts & Facials)
Licensed beauticians and estheticians provide haircuts and facials wherever patients call home, helping them feel refreshed, cared for, and at ease.
Virtual Reality Experiences
Virtual reality provides immersive, calming experiences that can help reduce anxiety and depression through distraction therapy.
Handmade Quilt Delivery
Handmade quilts from the Monterey Bay Quilters Guild offer warmth, comfort, and a tangible reminder that patients are supported and cared for.
Celebratory Birthday Deliveries
Volunteers deliver flowers, cards, and thoughtful messages to help create meaningful moments of joy and recognition.
Healing Touch & Reiki
These gentle, energy-based practices promote relaxation and a sense of peace through nurturing, hands-on support.
Veteran-to-Veteran Visits
Veteran volunteers provide connection and understanding to fellow Veterans, creating a shared bond that enhances emotional support.
End-of-Life Doula Support
End-of-life doulas provide non-medical emotional and physical support, helping patients and families honor personal wishes while offering guidance through grief and continued support after loss.
Vigil Support
Volunteers offer a compassionate presence during the final stages of life, supporting both patients and families during this important transition.
Volunteer With Us
If you are looking for a meaningful way to give back, volunteering with Central Coast VNA & Hospice offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact in your community.
Contact Us
Katya Blandino
Volunteer Program Coordinator
📧 kblandino@ccvna.com
📞 831-751-5500
Volunteer Program FAQs
I live outside of the Salinas-Monterey area, am I still able to volunteer?
Absolutely! Our office volunteer position is the only one limited to the Salinas area but we see patients all across the central coast. Volunteers serve within their own community and set their volunteer parameters prior to entering the field. A list of the communities we serve can be found below:
- Castroville
- Moss Landing
- Carmel
- Carmel Valley
- King City
- Greenfield
- Soledad
- Gonzalez
- Hollister
- Gilroy
- San Juan Bautista
- Morgan Hill
- Pebble Beach
- Pacific Grove
- Prunedale
- Marina
- Seaside
- Salinas
- Monterey
How old do I have to be to volunteer with VNA & Hospice?
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to volunteer.
Is there a time commitment for volunteering?
Yes, VNA & Hospice ask for a time commitment of a minimum of 2-4 hours a week for the duration of 1 year unless you are a special services volunteer. Special service volunteers are asked to make a time commitment of a minimum of 2-4 hours a month for 1 year.
How flexible is the volunteer schedule?
VERY! Your time can be broken down into 1, 2 or 4 hour time slots with the opportunity to volunteer on the evenings and weekends as well. We leave all scheduling up to our volunteers unless a patient is requesting a specific time frame. Once a schedule has been set up, we ask that all volunteers communicate their schedule with volunteer department and remain accountable for their set times.
What if I go on vacation or need to take a leave?
Perfectly fine! We at VNA & Hospice recognize the importance of self-care and encourage all volunteers to take a leave and enjoy their vacation time. Volunteers simply notify the volunteer department of the dates they will be unavailable and we take care of any substitutions needed during this time.
As a volunteer who is new to the hospice field, what kind of support can I expect?
Many of our volunteers come to us with a simple curiosity for hospice and a desire to serve. From the initial phone call and in person interview, the volunteer department works with you to find the right volunteer position. From there, we provide you with an orientation and team training where you can learn more about hospice, the interdisciplinary team, what it is like to work with patients and much more! For volunteers who are working with hospice patients directly, we also make sure that for your first two visits you are accompanied by a member of our interdisciplinary team.
From then on, all volunteers are supported in their patient assignments by the volunteer department and of course-the patient’s immediate care team. Lastly, the volunteer department also provides all volunteers with ongoing in service dates and workshops to allow for continuous support and educational opportunities during your time here at VNA & Hospice.
We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities in your community!
Our VNA Volunteers provide comfort and companionship to patients and much-needed caregiver breaks to family members. Our volunteers donate over 1,000 hours of service to support patients, families, and staff each year. Specialty visits include massage therapy, haircuts, pet therapy, and finance advice.
Visiting Volunteer
If you are looking for a truly rewarding volunteer experience, our visiting volunteers are a special group of individuals who provide direct (nonmedical) support services to our palliative and hospice patients and their families all along the Central Coast. They work alongside our team of clinical professionals to help enhance a patient’s quality of life through activities such as:
- Companionship (Reading, Singing, Playing Instruments, Watching Movies, Scrapbooking, Knitting and Simply Being a Friendly Presence)
- Respite Care for Families & Caregivers
- Light Meal Preparation
- Reading
- Veterans wanting to serve other Veterans
- Running Errands
- Light Housekeeping
- Keeping vigil with patients and families during their final days and hours
- Giving time and skills to our local community
Office Volunteer
VNA & Hospice values and appreciates volunteers who have skills and abilities that can be utilized in an office setting. Whether it’s typing, filing, mailing, organizing, or answering phones- your help is always welcomed and appreciated!
Veteran Volunteer
VNA is a proud member of the We Honor Veterans network, a partnership with the Department of Veteran Affairs with the Hospice and Palliative Care initiative. www.wehonorveterans.org
Locally, VNA & Hospice is the first community member to be part of the United Veterans Council. www.uvc-mc.com
This means to us – we want to serve our Veterans who have served for us. Through our Veteran to Veteran volunteer program we connect Veteran volunteers within the community with Veterans who are currently on hospice to promote camaraderie and improve end of life care. As a Veteran volunteer, you may provide fellow veterans a final opportunity to be honored, conduct pinning ceremonies, and/or share your stories together.
Pet Therapy Volunteer
Nothing cheers up our animal loving patients and families more than a visit from a sweet animal friend and a loving pet therapist!
Our pet therapy volunteers and certified pets make visits to patients in either a home or facility setting. They provide our patients companionship and work alongside our interdisciplinary team of professionals to help enhance the quality of life of our hospice patients. VNA & Hospice partners with Therapy Dog International to provide the highest quality training.
Learn more about Pet Therapy Here
Complimentary Therapy Volunteer
Our patients and families adore and appreciate services and support from Licensed Beauticians, Massage Therapists, Reiki Therapy, and/or Music Therapists. Their expertise provides an extra level of support to our patient’s plan of care and their presence always brings a smile.
For more information, please contact us at:
(831) 751-5500 or email us at volunteer@ccvna.com
Quick Links
Community Wellness
Home Health Care
Hospice Care
About CCVNA
For more information on VNA’s services please call 831-751-5500.