Category: Volunteer Stories

In light of COVID-19, Hospice of the Red River Valley’s in-person volunteer activities have been temporarily paused to protect both our patients and volunteers. Even during this time, our volunteers are finding creative, meaningful ways to connect with patients. Hospice of the Red River Valley Volunteer Lee Roggenkamp is spreading cheer to patients by recording …

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For siblings Dave Brunelle and Janet Cox, volunteering is a bit of a family affair. The brother and sister duo enjoy offering their time and talent while giving back to others. Both share similar volunteer roles with Hospice of the Red River Valley and Heirlooms Thrift & Gift, a Fargo resale store benefitting Hospice. The …

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Gail “Sunny” Prudhomme’s passion for volunteering was in part sparked by her father’s experience with Hospice of the Red River Valley. She was working fulltime helping two kids through college when she realized her dad could no longer live alone in his Crookston, Minn., home. She invited him into her Fargo home to better take …

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For the past 15 years, Ethel Wischer has spent Thursday afternoons volunteering in the stockroom at Heirlooms Thrift & Gift, a resale store benefitting Hospice of the Red River Valley. Every week she joyfully secures an apron around her waist, rolls up her sleeves and carefully unpacks, washes, shines and polishes the generously donated items. …

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[caption id="attachment_4886" align="alignright" width="226"] Barb Bohm, Hospice of the Red River Valley volunteer[/caption] Fifteen years ago, Barb Bohm chose a lovely way to spend more time with her daughter while giving back through volunteering with Hospice of the Red River Valley. Since then, the pair has experienced priceless life lessons together. “My daughter and I began volunteering together in 2003. At...

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The patient sleeps most of the time, even when she has visitors. But Julie Aanenson heard her singing, just a little bit, the last time she visited. As a Hospice of the Red River Valley volunteer, Julie sings and plays music for the patients she sees. “The patient was otherwise nonresponsive,” Julie said. “I can say goodbye to her,...

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Warren Wiltse is a man with many roles: family man, caregiver, retired farmer and rancher, life-long Lisbon, N.D., resident; world traveler, local Kiwanis Club member (for the past 35 years), Gideons International member (for the past 59 years), friend to many, storyteller and conversationalist. One more role looms large in Warren’s heart and in his community: long-time Hospice of the...

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If there’s one topic that’s generally avoided in casual conversation, it’s death and dying. The lack of conversation and planning before end-of-life can lead to confusion within families, missed opportunities to honor final wishes and a general sense of discomfort. Still most people will purposefully avoid talking about death. Not Steve Anglin. Steve, a volunteer with Hospice of the...

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The purpose of any hospice volunteer program is to provide companionship and support to patients. But in Hospice of the Red River Valley Volunteer Bethany Freeland’s experience, the program provides so much more than companionship. As a pre-med major and current hospice volunteer, Bethany’s experiences are shaping her mindset and enhancing skills that she will take with her into...

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