WEST SPRINGFIELD –Cindy Sheridan-Murphy remembers walking into the Cancer House of Hope three years ago like it was yesterday. “I was just diagnosed with breast cancer and I was petrified,” she recalls,“and I was greeted with such warmth and compassion. One of the volunteers scheduled me for a reiki appointment and pointed me towards one of the many support groups. Throughout the next several months I visited weekly and was always greeted with a smile by someone who’d listen. The volunteers would put aside hats and scarves they thought I would like. It was the unselfishness of these volunteers that made me want to join them someday.”
And join them she did: Cindy volunteers at Cancer House of Hope. “The feeling I get when someone walks in the same door with panic on their face, just like I did, and knowing that giving them a few minutes of my time gives them hope, that’s priceless. That is what motivates me to make a difference in the life of a cancer survivor.”
Cancer House of Hope, located at 1999 Westfield Street in West Springfield, enhances the lives of people with cancer and those who care about them. The House provides emotional, educational, social and spiritual support services and relaxation programs free of charge. “It is our mission to be a supportive, caring and hopeful place of healing,” says Program Director Joe Kane. “We serve 400 guests a year, and every penny of every dollar donated to the House directly supports programming and the people we serve.”
People who have personal experience as guests of the House are among the organization’s most committed volunteers. Consider what Laurie Murphy says about her volunteer experience. “Every day is different volunteering at the Cancer House of Hope,” she explains. “There’s the bookkeeping and the simple housekeeping, but the most meaningful part of volunteering for me is helping the people that come in the door. To give them a tour, book them for a massage, or just sit and listen to what they are feeling is a very humbling and gratifying experience for me.”
Latoya Davis is thankful for the opportunity to volunteer at Cancer House of Hope. “Being a volunteer has been so rewarding,” she says. “There are so many stories, hugs, and tears. Like when a person comes in and cries thanking me for something simple like a welcome letter I sent home that came at the right time because they had a hard treatment and were feeling down.Or when someone who is newly diagnosed comes into the House nervous, sometimes in tears, but leaves with a smile and with a sense of hope. I find it an honor to be apart of someone’s support system while they are going through this difficult time in their lives.”
Joe Kane describes volunteers as the “beating heart” of the Cancer House of House. “Their commitment to provide a welcoming place where people feel at home is crucial to our mission of service,” he explains. “And it doesn’t take much time. Most volunteers work a regular 3-hour shift each week and we try to be flexible to accommodate personal schedules.”
Who is a good candidate to volunteer? “Anyone who has personal, lived experience with cancer and its effects on individuals and families,” says Kane. “Someone who has been through a cancer experience themselves is in a unique position to be a sounding board or a shoulder to cry on. These people are often highly motivated to give something back, too. Some volunteers are people whose lives were impacted by the cancer diagnosis of someone they care about. And some volunteers are just people with compassionate hearts.”
Kane encourages prospective volunteers to think about their own passions and talents so they can put them to productive use in service to others. He also points out an intriguing statistic: about 80% of the people who walk through the door at the House are women. “I think that might reflect the nature of the services we offer and also the social nature of women,” he contends, “but men seek out our services, too. It would be great to have more male volunteers to provide the kind of connection that comes when two men talk to each other.”
One crucial job performed by volunteers is answering the phone. “Since we most often make our first connection with guests on the phone, this is a very important job,” says Kane. “You also could make sure the House is clean and presentable, greet guests who walk in our door, and give tours. You could schedule and update appointments. You could listen to a guest’s story and offer support, or aid a guest in finding a wig or prosthetic.”
Any service organization has practical considerations, too, and the House is always interested in volunteers who speak a language in addition to English. People with experience in fund raising, event planning, office management or building maintenancecan help with the operation of the House. Certified massage therapists, reiki practitioners, or yoga instructor are sought after as well.
“The satisfaction that comes with volunteering is immeasurable,” Kane believes. “Cancer House of Hope provides a volunteer orientation program to help you understand our mission and values, and get you started right. If you think you’d be a good fit, or if you just want to learn more about the opportunity, please contact me today.”
Joe Kane can be reached at 413-733-1858 or[email protected].
