National Volunteer Week: The Healing Power of Showing Up

This is National Volunteer Week, a time set aside to recognize the difference volunteers make every day. Established in 1974 by Points of Light, this observance has grown into a nationwide movement honoring the essential role volunteers play in strengthening our communities.

Volunteers in bereavement programs offer both compassionate presence and practical support to individuals and families navigating loss. They may help facilitate support groups, welcome participants, and create a safe, respectful space for sharing stories and emotions. Many provide one-on-one companionship through phone calls, cards, or visits, offering a steady listening ear without judgment or the need to “fix” anything. They assist with organizing memorial events, educational workshops, and remembrance activities, and often help with the administrative details that keep programs running smoothly. At the heart of their role is a quiet commitment to accompany others in grief, honoring each person’s experience while helping them feel less alone.

Grief changes the landscape of a person’s life. Meaningful service can offer a pathway forward, restoring a sense of purpose, transforming personal pain into compassion, and reducing isolation. Here are some local opportunities to serve:

• Hope Lives Here - Website: https://hlhgrief.org
• VNA Care (Hospice & Bereavement) - Website: https://vnacare.org/resources/grief-and-bereavement-support\
• Jewish Healthcare Center Hospice -Website: https://www.jhccenter.org/jhc-hospice/hospice-volunteers
• St. George Catholic Church Bereavement Ministry Website: https://saintgeorgesparish.org/bereavement-committee
• Why Me & Sherry’s House - Website: https://whyme.org

During National Volunteer Week, we pause to recognize and celebrate all who serve in the tender work of grief support. You offer something truly meaningful: your presence, your compassion, and your quiet companionship. You bring comfort simply by being there, creating space for others to feel seen, heard, and less alone. We at Miles are deeply grateful for the healing presence you share so generously, and we warmly congratulate and thank you for the difference you make each and every day.