Coastal Hospice Presents Awards To Leading Volunteers

Coastal Hospice Presents Awards To Leading Volunteers
Steve Hoefer, second from right, of Cambridge is pictured with Rabbi Arnold Beinstock, Coastal Hospice President Alane Capen and Coastal Hspice at the Lake Team Leader Monique Welch. Submitted Photos

SALISBURY – Last year, more than 235 volunteers contributed in excess of 13,500 hours in roles spanning Coastal Hospice & Palliative Care’s mission across the Lower Shore. In honor of their extraordinary work, highly anticipated annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheons were held to recognize their contributions.

“Our volunteers come to serve, and we could not be prouder,” said Alane Capen, president of Coastal Hospice. “Community members volunteer at Coastal Hospice because they possess a caring and compassionate heart for hospice, and we stand in awe to honor them for their service.”

Two volunteers, Pam Ferinde of Ocean Pines and Steve Hoefer of Cambridge, were surprised at the lunches as the dual winners of the 2019 Jean Camie Jackson “Heart of Hospice” Award. Named for one of Coastal Hospice’s founders and most beloved volunteers, the award is the highest honor Coastal Hospice bestows on its volunteers.

The awards were presented by Capen at the annual Volunteer Luncheons on April 10 and 11, during National Volunteer Appreciation Week.  According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, 430,000 hospice volunteers across the nation contribute a staggering $469 million in service annually.

“Our volunteer programs make so many things possible,” said Capen. “They provide comfort and companionship to patients and families; assistance in our 13-month bereavement program and with office support; operate our Ocean Pines Thrift Shop; provide support for fundraising activities and much more.”

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Pam Ferinde of Ocean Pines accepts the award for 2018 Patient Support Volunteer from Coastal Hospice President Alane Capen at a luncheon earlier this month.

A volunteer since the spring of 2017, Ferinde primarily focuses her time on supporting the staff at the Ocean Pines office, managing patient files, organizing supplies, providing support to the nurses and staff and helping with anything that needs to be done. In addition, Pam expanded her role into Patient Care and visits Compass Clients providing respite care for the families and companionship to the clients.

“Pam brightens up our day,” said Niquita Gordy, LPN and clinical support for the Fairwinds team. “She is wonderful.  I could not do my job without her.”

Hoefer has been a volunteer at Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury since November of 2015, visiting with patients and their families every Sunday and on all holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas. During these visits, he has spent time with more than 1,377 patients and their families and has traveled more than 15,000 miles to and from his home in Cambridge.

“Steve is extremely compassionate and creative,” said Renee Smith, manager of Volunteer Services. “One of so many examples … we recently had a patient who had lost the function to move from the neck down and was unable to communicate. Steve connected a laser pointer to a pair of glasses – giving the patient the ability to spell out words and to play checkers – and adding so much joy to his life. Steve was able to see the patient’s struggles and to think outside box.”