Help out in the Gosnell Hospice House Kitchen!

Do you want to support others though the comfort of food? Help out in the Gosnell Memorial House Kitchen - serve patientsand their loved ones with nutritious and soothing meals!

Southern Maine Agency on Agency is partnering withHospice of Southern Maineto recruit Kitchen Helpers!

Hospice of Southern Maine cares for more than 1,600 patients annually, at the patient's home, current care facility, and Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, an 18-bed inpatient facility in Scarborough. HSM admits patients with a variety of diagnoses, including Alzheimer's; heart, lung, and kidney diseases; stroke; Lou Gehrig's disease; and cancer. Care is patient-centered with family support and provided by a comprehensive interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, social workers, aides, chaplains, grief counselors, and volunteers.

As a Kitchen Volunteer, you'll assist the Kitchen Manager in preparing food for hospice patients and their families. This role will be a skilled hand in a kitchen setting that will help with a variety of tasks - great for someone who wants to utilize their background in the food service industry or someone looking to build lifelong skills while helping those in need.

Key Volunteer Responsibilities:

• Food Preparation
• Washing Dishes/utensils
• Ensure clean work surfaces
• Comply with health and safety regulations (training provided, and under the guidance of the HSM Kitchen Manager)
• Serving meals to - and chatting with! - hospice patients and their families (patients and their families can eat in the kitchen with the Kitchen Volunteer and Kitchen Manager, or food can be delivered to their room)

Qualities & Skills We're Looking For:

• Reliable
• Effective communication skills
• Dedicated to food quality and control
• Strong knowledge of proper food handling and sanitation standards; training provided in this area
• Ability to complete assigned tasks within designated time frame
• Ability to stay calm, compassionate, and effective during times of stress, such as when interacting with confused or distressed individuals/families
• Respects patient/family belief systems

Commitment & Schedule:

• Flexible Hours: Shifts are flexible within the hours of 8am-2pm; we are looking specifically for a volunteer to be available/on-call to fill in during times when Kitchen Manager is not available (due to vacation, calling out sick).
• Minimum Commitment: At least one year.

Training & Support:

• Volunteer Training Program: Volunteers must complete Hospice of Southern Maine's 40-hour patient support training, which includes: what is hospice, ethics, family dynamics/diversity, working with Alzheimers and dementia patients, HIPPA and confidentiality, policies and guidelines, self-care, advance directives and the funeral process, and more) PLUS on-the-job training (provided by HSM Kitchen Manager).
• Ongoing Support: Youll receive 24-hour support from the Hospice of Southern Maine team, along with additional training and volunteer recognition events.

Location:

• Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, 11 Hunnewell Rd, Scarborough, ME 04074

Benefits for Volunteers:

• Invitations to annual volunteer luncheons and appreciation
• Chance to meet and connect with Hospice of Sothern Maine and SMAA staff, volunteers and clients alike
• Opportunity to gain experience working with various organizational spreadsheets, databases and work-related software
• Become involved in the process of drafting new materials and participate in ongoing trainings
• Recognition and appreciation events for your hard work and dedication, from both Hospice of Southern Maine and the Southern Maine Agency on Aging.

In addition to this role, there are other opportunities to help out at Hospice of Southern Maine! Check out our other listings here. Hospice of SouthernMaine offersin-person volunteer roles, and volunteerrolesmaking calls from home!

Join us today! Contact Sothern Maine Agency on Aging Volunteer Services at [email protected] or 207-396-6595.