Volunteers
From Booklets to Bedsides, Volunteers Make the Difference
When you first meet Joni Dalgar, known by many around Empath Health as JD, it’s easy to see that she is an enthusiastic and dedicated individual. It also becomes very apparent that above all, she is humble. As a...
Volunteer Makes Donations Resale Ready
In the back of the Suncoast Hospice Resale Shop in St. Petersburg, there is a nook where many donations make a stop before reaching the sales floor. In this corner there are assorted tools covering the wall and...
Friendly Phone Calls Support LGBTQ Elders
Empath Partners in Care (EPIC) is helping local LGBTQ elders say hello to improved wellbeing. The Tampa Bay area is a region with many residents over the age of 50. However, the vast majority of services for the...
Volunteering Across the Social Distance
As a not-for-profit organization, volunteers play a key role in helping Empath Health provide services to the community. Last year, volunteers contributed more than 195,000 hours of service. These selfless...
Honoring Our Service Men and Women
Ten is a magic number for Mike Couper. That’s how many years he served in the military. It’s also how long he has been with Suncoast Hospice, a member of Empath Health, as a Veterans Serving Veterans volunteer....
Crafting Family Gives Back To Suncoast Hospice
Piles of buttons, skeins of yarn and a multitude of crocheted bands in every color imaginable fill the tables in Susan Cooney’s home. Like many other home sewers and crafters, Cooney has been putting her nimble...
Meet Our Volunteers of the Year: Part 1
Every day the Empath Health family of volunteers are making a difference in the lives of others. Whether supporting the organization from behind the scenes or providing comfort directly to patients and families, we...
Pediatric Patient Becomes Aspiring Artist
Aspiring artist Maia already has more talent in one finger than many can say they have in their whole body. Like any 11-year-old might be found, she is propped up in bed, a computer screen in front of her. Tonight...
Creating a Healing Oasis for the Grieving
It’s National Grief Awareness Day on August 30 – a time to shine light on grief, support and healing. Healing Oasis Loss and grief can affect our whole wellbeing, from emotional stress, physical health and...
Pet Volunteer Brings Dog-Gone Good Comfort in Care
Today is National Dog Day! Let’s paws and celebrate the love and joy our doggies fill in our lives and community. Sir Omar Bradley is one of 44 animals serving in our pet volunteer program. He is a pure-bred Golden...
Comforts at Care Centers
Caring for our Suncoast Hospice patients and families takes tender touch and comfort. When our patients are in the state of severe pain and stress, they may come to our Care Centers for short-term stays, skilled...
Empath Health Honors Veterans Recording Their War-Time Stories
Israel “Butch” Miller joined the Navy with his sight set on going to Vietnam. Instead he landed in California at Naval Hospital Oakland. He served as a lieutenant and one of the first commissioned male nurses in...