Written by Samantha Fridley
Marketing and Digital Engagement Coordinator
July 17, 2026
Hospice of the Panhandle Launches Companion Volunteer Program to Expand Inpatient Hospice Care Support
Kearneysville, WV – Hospice of the Panhandle has launched a new Companion Volunteer (CV) Program, expanding volunteer opportunities that support patients, families, and staff within the organization’s Inpatient Facility. The program officially begins Monday, July 20, and is designed to enhance the experience of those receiving inpatient hospice care through compassionate companionship and meaningful engagement.
The new hospice volunteer program provides trained volunteers with the opportunity to spend time with patients, facilitate activities and engagement, and provide support to our IPF staff as they continue to provide the best care for patients. While Companion Volunteers do not provide medical care, they play a very important role in supporting the organization’s interdisciplinary team.
Ahead of the program’s launch, more than 45 volunteers participated in a comprehensive training led by Katrina Stevens, Volunteer Services Manager. The training introduced volunteers to the responsibilities and tasks of the role, communication best practices, and expectations for serving patients and families receiving hospice care.
Participants also received an in-depth tour of Hospice of the Panhandle’s Inpatient Facility, led by Kristie Carbaugh, Director of IPF Operations, and Ashley Rogers, Transport Specialist. The tour familiarized volunteers with the facility and operations.
Volunteers received an in-depth tour of the Inpatient Facility, led by Kristie Carbaugh, Director of IPF Operations, and Ashley Rogers, Transport Specialist.
The CV Program expands the organization’s existing hospice volunteer opportunities, giving volunteers another meaningful way to serve individuals facing serious illness and end-of-life care.
Katrina Stevens, Volunteer Services Manager, expressed her excitement. “We are excited to welcome this new opportunity where volunteers can serve with enthusiasm and will have a lasting, daily impact on patients, families, and IPF staff. Their gift of time, kindness, and caring helps create comfort, connections, and hope for everyone we serve.”
Hospice of the Panhandle offers a variety of volunteer opportunities in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, with volunteers serving patients, families, and staff.
About Hospice of the Panhandle
Hospice of the Panhandle is a nonprofit provider of hospice and palliative care services serving the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, including Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan, and Hampshire counties. Through compassionate, patient-centered care, the organization supports individuals and families facing serious illness with medical, emotional, and spiritual care wherever they call home, including its Inpatient Facility in Kearneysville.