Journey Home Singers Volunteer Application

Thank you for your interest in becoming a singer for Journey Home Bedside Singers, a volunteer program associated with Cooley Dickinson VNA and Hospice. The Journey Home singers have been bringing songs of peace and comfort to our hospice and hospital patients since 2011. Comprised of approximately 30 volunteer members, we travel in small, four-part a cappella groups throughout the Pioneer Valley to bring moments of joy to families and help make our patients’ end-of-life transitions as comfortable and respectful as possible.

If you are interested in joining Journey Home, you are welcome to visit our practices to learn more about our approach. Sensitivity to the sacred time preceding death, musical ability, and availability to come when needed are necessary components for any singing volunteer. Acceptance of new members is based on our needs for particular voice parts and a person’s ability to sing in tune and hold their own part with other parts. Singers who sing at bedside must be certified. Once certified, you will receive access to an official practice book and a hospice badge. The path to certification includes:

• Attending some practice sessions
• Interviewing/auditioning with music directors
• Filling out application below
• Attending a training session with the Hospice Volunteer Coordinator and completing paperwork
• Obtaining a health screening at the hospital for TB screening, immunization records and proof of flu shot
• Making a one-year commitment to the group with an expectation of rehearsing twice per month and participating in at least one sing per month

Journey Home singers must be at least 18 years old. Cooley Dickinson VNA and Hospice does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age in admission or access to treatment or participation in its programs or activities.

Please complete the form below to apply, or contact VNA Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Tina Leflar at 413-586-0193 or cleflar@cooleydickinson.org to learn more!