Southcoast Visiting Nurse Association seeks volunteers to help with grief support outreach

FAIRHAVEN, Mass. — The Southcoast Visiting Nurse Association (VNA), a part of Southcoast Health, is seeking compassionate, caring volunteers to help lead its community bereavement support groups. Groups are held throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and East Bay Rhode Island.

Most groups meet every two weeks for about 90 minutes and are facilitated by two co-leaders. Topics discussed in groups may include: understanding grief; remembering; accepting and expressing feelings; role changes and adjustments in daily living; stress and coping; anniversaries and memorialization; support systems; and spirituality. For those who attend the groups, meeting others who have experienced a significant loss can be a powerful force toward healing. It helps them to learn that they are not alone, form new connections and friendships, and gain hope and courage to move forward day by day.

Potential volunteers should enjoy working with people, have experienced the loss of a loved one, or want to help those who are grieving. Training and ongoing supervision are provided.

Volunteers are also needed to help at the VNA office, sending out bereavement mailings and making follow-up phone calls.

For more information or to apply, call 508-973-3227 or visit www.southcoast.org/visiting-nurse-association.