Students volunteer, help hospice
By Joann Groff  joann@theacorn.com

GOOD GUYS--Daniel Gates and Hans Interiano, Thousand Oaks High School juniors, sand a local home in preparation for painting.

A group of Thousand Oaks High School students spent Presidents Day weekend doing yard work, painting, washing windows and cleaning the homes of hospice clientele in Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Simi Valley.

Maria Prescott, executive director of Hospice of the Conejo, said the group of students came in and asked to help in a hands-on way. They were volunteering because of a community service assignment, but Prescott said she felt they were genuine in their desire to help.

"Somehow their hearts had been touched, and we sensed they were relating to their assignment on a different level," Prescott said. "It wasn't just a community service project to them."

Prescott said she generally limits interaction with clients to professionals. Only highly trained staff or volunteers have direct contact with families. But for the first time, Prescott said, she decided to let the families decideand several gratefully accepted the offer.

The student volunteers formed teams, chose projects and paid for paint and other materials. "We contacted the hospiceand they got us connected with people who needed help," said Daniel Gates, a junior at TOHS. "Our (client) really needed her house painted, but her husband was bedridden and her hands were arthritic. She just couldn't do it on her own."

Daniel is in a combination English and history class taught by Krister Swanson and Tasha Beaudoin. The teachers combine their groups for a two-period-long class and always incorporate a community service project into the year.

Small groups volunteer in the community and then put together a PowerPoint presentation and essay on what they learned.

Daniel and classmate Hans Interiano were a team of just two with a big project that went on longer than expected. After rain canceled out half a painting day, they made up for lost time every day after school last week, and they were finishing up early this week.

"We try to put in a couple hours every day," Daniel said. "Straight from school we rush right over there."

For the two good Samaritans, the rewards were great.

"She was so thankful," Daniel said. "She would come out of the house while we were sanding and tell us we were a godsend."

Hans said he would encourage other students to get involved at the Hospice of the Conejo.

"You get a chance to really help someone in need," Hans said. "At first, it can feel like a chore, but it makes you feel so good to see how much you are helping people and how much they need it and appreciate it."

Hospice of the Conejo is a volunteer hospice whose mission is to provide comfort and dignity to those who are terminally ill and support to their families before the death of their loved one and in the grieving process. This year the hospice celebrates its 30th year serving the community.

All services at Hospice of the Conejo are free, thanks to the funding received from the cities of Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Westlake Village United Way, grants and individual memorials and donations.