Comfort

Music is NOT entertainment in nature, rather is to serve more as calming and therapeutic. Volunteers often have little to no interaction with clients with few exceptions. Think of this as background music where your presence is greatly appreciated.
​Volunteer at:
Volunteer opportunities for intermediate to Advanced and Professional-caliber musicians interested in providing recreational music to those experiencing some of the most difficult seasons of life

Hospitals
​(public areas)

Families and caregivers with loved ones in the hospital, and those receiving treatment for long-term illness or disabilities are frequently waiting, walking, and worrying during each and every visit to the hospital. 
​Caring Hearts and Voices aims to support those frequently visiting hospitals by providing calming music in waiting areas and lobbies of hospitals.  

Volunteers may use string instruments, keyboard (some locations have a piano), woodwind instruments, voice, and similar calming instruments. Volunteers will need to bring their own instruments, music stand.  The volunteer leader will bring song sheets, although each musician is welcome to bring additional song sheets to share.
Volunteer requirements:
  • Intermediate to Advanced proficiency on instrument or voice
  • Willingness to commit to at least 1 session per month for 1 year
  • Submit volunteer hours at the end of each volunteer session through Caring Hearts and Voices
  • Must be at least 16 years of age
  • Complete an application and a criminal background check (18 years and older)
  • Attend a hospital orientation
  • Participate in an interview of about 45 minutes
  • Get clearance through Employee Health, providing immunization record for mumps, measles and chickenpox
  • Complete training specific for your position
  • Volunteer a minimum of four hours per shift (Must complete a minimum of 200 hours to fulfill obligation)
  • Summer Requirements: Volunteer a minimum of 100 hours

Hospice Care Centers
​(public areas)

​Friends, Family, and Caregivers visiting  hospice care centers spend long hours visiting and caring for loved ones nearing the end stages of life.  They frequently spend day and night nearby or even staying  overnight to ensure loved ones are never alone.  Length of stays are unknown, and making plans for typical life routines and activities get pushed aside for the time being.

​Caring Hearts and Voices aims to support all who spend time at the hospice care center by providing calming music in hallways and family areas of hospice care centers.
Volunteer requirements:
  • Intermediate to Advanced proficiency on instrument or voice
  • Willingness to commit to at least 1 session per month for 1 year
  • Age 18 or older
  • ​Complete volunteer application through JourneyCare ​
  • Attend 1 day Hospice Care training through JourneyCare (federally mandated for hospice volunteers)
  • Complete online classes through JourneyCare's training program.
  • Complete physical and receive approval through physician.
  • TB test (may use results from previous test if completed within the past year)
  • Background check
  • 3 character references
  • Attend 3 Caring Hearts and Voices volunteer sessions with a Volunteer Leader (to qualify as a Volunteer Leader in this specialty)
  • Submit volunteer documentation through hospice care site and Caring Hearts and Voices

Homeless Shelters
​(PADS Centers)

Those who rely on shelters for housing seldom sleep in the same place each night.  This is because churches host PADS shelters on rotations to ensure their parish is able to provide sufficient volunteers to run the temporary shelter.  Not knowing where you will sleep at night is extremely stressful to adults; it can be even more stressful with children and seniors who may not have the ability to comprehend the rotation schedule.
Caring Hearts and Voices aims to support those relying on homeless shelters with calming music during check-in at one of our partner locations. Volunteers may use string instruments, keyboard (some locations have a piano), woodwind instruments, voice, and similar calming instruments. Volunteers will need to bring their own instruments, music stand.  The volunteer leader will bring song sheets, although each musician is welcome to bring additional song sheets to share.

Additionally, Caring Hearts and Voices will be providing children and adults FREE ukulele lessons from 7:30-8:00 pm.

Volunteer requirements:
  • Intermediate to Advanced proficiency on instrument or voice
  • Willingness to commit to at least 1 session per month for 1 year
  • Age 18 or older
  • ​Complete volunteer application (scroll down)
  • Attend a 1 hour training at shelter coordinating center - write "musician with Caring Hearts and Voices in the comments." Journeys the Road Home, McHenry County PADS, DuPage PADS
  • Complete protection compliance application process through church hosting shelter (varies depending on night you will be volunteering) 
  • TB test (may use results from previous test if completed with the past year)
  • Background check
  • 3 character references
  • Submit volunteer hours at the end of each volunteer session through host agency, host site, and Caring Hearts and Voices

Mental Health Centers
(Public events)

Mental health concerns span a range of intensity. People may need guidance to get through a difficult time in life (like a divorce, loss of a job, money problems). Some benefit from an intervention to cope with a situational depression or a bout of anxiety. Others have serious mental illness – brain disorders, like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, that require ongoing support and medication to manage the illness. 
Caring Hearts and Voices aims to support those experiencing mental health concerns through music by providing music and/or dance-based entertainment during weekly PSR group meetings (held on Wednesdays) to help build confidence and socialization skills. Volunteers will need to complete:
  • volunteer application
  • volunteer orientation
  • background check​​

Caring Hearts and Voices also aims to support patients experiencing memory loss and dementia, along with their caregivers, through music during monthly Memory Café meets (every 3rd Friday of the month).  This would not need to occur every month, perhaps more of a quarterly basis. A formalized volunteer orientation would not necessarily be required for this type of activity (highly desired if it is someone whom may be coming regularly).