Agency News

4/19/2024 April is Volunteer Recognition Month! We are grateful for the commitment of those who volunteer with the Healing Patch Children's Grief Program and Family Hospice.

Healing Patch

Volunteers are the heart of the Healing Patch Children's Grief Program. Without them, these free services could not exist for the grieving children and families of our community. It takes a special type of person to absorb the tragic stories children share at the Healing Patch. While volunteers must understand they are unable to “fix” what has happened, volunteers are able to help bring hope and healing back into the life of a child.

"As the Volunteer Coordinator/Grief Specialist, I work with 100 volunteers currently between those who facilitate peer support groups in Blair or Cambria County and those who sew memory bears for the children," says Shalen Steinbugl, Healing Patch Volunteer Coordinator/Grief Specialist. I can say firsthand that every single one of these volunteers gives with their entire heart. They volunteer because they have a passion for helping others. They make my job incredibly easy—they’re reliable and dependable. But they also make my job possible—without them, we couldn’t provide free grief services to local families in need. I’m beyond grateful for the 'family' of volunteers that has formed at the Healing Patch."

Healing Patch volunteers are needed to facilitate groups, greet families, serve food, complete sewing projects, and serve in special supportive roles.

Click here for more information about becoming a Healing Patch volunteer.

Blair Healing Patch Volunteers
Jennifer Addison, Margy Baumgartner, Michelle Beard, Polly Benton, Joe Bilka, Jesse Blank, Tina Brubaker, Jody Christen, Nan Covert, Tess Crawford, Gabrielle Cronin, Maureen Dodson, Donna Downing, Lisa Faretta, Katie Fiore, James Gerraughty, Natalie Graham, Susie Gutshall, Sherry Hayford, Soozie Holzer, Becky Hazenstab, Deb Hommer, Jessica Hunter, Gina Itle, Tina Karl, Trez Knob, Sue LeCrone, Mary Lilly, Denise Mason, Rose McCale, Chris McConnell, Holly Mohler, Shannon Morris, Anne Musser, Jess Peacock, Mickey Port, Terri Primack, Terry Riley, Ali Robinson, Brigid Sheedy, Barb Shoup, Alex Seltzer, Holly Stiffler, Kent Tonkin, Jessica White, Rhonda White, Katie Whysong, and Jen Zupon

Cambria Healing Patch Volunteers
Kathy Bradley, Marycarole Brannigan, Tammy Brletrick, Gina Burkhard, Beth Burkhart, Martha Criste, Michele Digon, Camilla Farabaugh-Miller, Madison Follansbee, Sue Glass, Cindy Hammel, Monica Klatt, Cortney Langerholc, Michele Marcinko, Teresa Middleton, Naomi Paluch, Robin Quist, Sue Shumar, Kim Sieg, Paula Smeal, Steve Tomlinson, Alice Tondora, Sharon Troy, and Michelle Wysong

Sewing Volunteers
Kim Adelman, Rose Battista, Kathy Bradley, Rachel Claar, Sara Clossin, Clara Davis, Patty Doty, Donna Downing, Betty Ann Farabaugh, Peg Frantz, Lillian Gainvors, Patti Isenberg, Sandy Kustaborder, Kim Massar, Susan Maurer, Christine McConnell, Tammy Miller, Barbara Miltenberger, Deanna Phillips, Patti Price, Robin Quist, Sally Ripka, Tina Sell, Brenda Servello, Theresa Shoemaker, Janet Smith, Martha Smith, Janice Snowberger, Alane Timmerman, Yvonne Wilson, and Betty Zaliznock

Family Hospice

Family Hospice volunteers embrace the opportunity and privilege to support patients and their families through a significant and inevitable season of life. Hospice volunteers make an impact in various ways, such as visiting with patients, providing relief for caregivers, assisting with clerical tasks as needed, making phone calls, supporting grieving family members, and more.

“Family Hospice volunteers are ‘Silent Angels’ who are compassionate, kind and loving,” shares Volunteer Coordinator Catherine Zimmerman-Moyer. “They see the value of being present with a hospice patient while providing caregiver relief to family member. They also understand the importance of walking with someone in their grief journey. They know that grief is just love with no place to go, and they understand with that major loss comes new beginnings.”

Volunteer involvement is determined by the individual’s skills, desires, and schedule. Volunteers are good listeners who display flexibility, understanding, and empathy. The time commitment for a volunteer can vary from several times per month to weekly. There are differing volunteer opportunities to match the strength and availability of volunteers. Specialized training is provided for new volunteers.

“Volunteers make all the difference to the patients and families that they serve,” says Daun Boyle, Family Hospice Volunteer Coordinator in Somerset County. “Their caring, compassion and willingness to give of their time and talents is such a pure and powerful gesture. Volunteers are simply giving from the heart anything that they have to give, whether it be when visiting patients or helping in the hospice offices. They are angels.”

“Volunteers are an integral part of the Family Hospice team,” says Volunteer and Bereavement Coordinator Carole Palmer. “Our compassionate volunteers offer empathy and companionship to both the patient and their loved ones during a difficult time. Many of our volunteers have also walked this road with their loved ones, making them the perfect person for the job! I am honored to be working with such great volunteers!”

For more information on becoming a Family Hospice volunteer, please reach out to the Volunteer Coordinator in your area:

Bedford, Blair, and Cambria counties: Catherine Zimmerman-Moyer, 814-502-5948, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Centre, Huntingdon, and Mifflin counties: Carole Palmer, 814-569-9193, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Somerset County: Daun Boyle, 814-515-6056, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Bedford County Volunteer Team
Lynn Ashe of Breezewood, Terry Doran of Central City, Ashley Faupel of New Paris, Rose McGhee of Dudley, Vicki Oster of Bedford and Jan Walent of Bedford

Blair County Volunteer Team
Betty Friedenberger of Altoona, Pastor Joe Hollen of Fallentimber, Gina Itle of Martinsburg, Vicki Johns of Hollidaysburg, Natalie Johnson of Duncansville, Michele Lloyd of Duncansville, Sharon Long of Hollidaysburg, Becky Mathers of Altoona, Sherry Merritts of Tyrone, Denice Rodaniche of Altoona, Sharon Troy of Hollidaysburg and Barb White of Warriors Mark

Cambria County Volunteer Team
Doreen Braniff of Revloc, Nicole Carpinello of Windber, Kimberly Colberg of Carrolltown, Martha Criste of Ebesnburg, Terry Doran of Central City, Mary Estep of Cresson, Pastor Joe Hollen of Fallentimber, John Soldo of Ligonier, Sharon Troy of Hollidaysburg and Michelle Wysong of Gallitzin

Centre County Volunteer Team
Christy Clapper of Boalsburg, Jeannie Field of Bellefonte, Pamela Meyer of State College, Vicky Schirm of State College, Vicki Vogtman of Bellefonte and Dennis Wichterman of State College

Huntingdon County Volunteer Team
Susan Benton, Robert Colton, Barbara Grove, TyJuan Hartman and Mary Ann Smith of Huntingdon

Mifflin County Volunteer Team
Carolyn Leacy of Lewistown

Somerset County Volunteer Team
Sally Ware of Friedens; Reba Caton, Veil James and Carol Wagner of Stoystown; Margaret Charney of Rockwood; Molly Baker, Evan Garland, George Illar, Sue Illar, Karen McKalips, Pam Miller, Beverly Mostoller, Jodi Shaffer and Donna Yoder of Somerset; Daisy Henry of Garrett, Alexa Lucas of Johnstown and Mickie St. Clair of Boswell