Volunteer Programs

We offer two types of volunteer programs, to suit a variety of people’s interests, skills, and availability.

VOLUNTEER CAREGIVERS
This program brings together people with a meditation or spiritual practice and individuals facing the final months or weeks of life.  Volunteer Caregivers serve at two San Francisco locations. MORE»

SPECIAL SKILLS VOLUNTEERS
Special Skills Volunteers provide a variety of services that are essential to the day-to-day functioning of Zen Hospice Project.  This includes administrative support, kitchen support, gardening, and shopping. Special Skills Volunteers serve at two San Francisco locations. MORE»

I slept and dreamt that life was joy.
I awoke and saw that life was service.
I acted and behold, service was joy.
- Rabindranath Tagore

At the heart of Zen Hospice Project are the 100+ volunteers who each year deliver an estimated 20,000 hours of practical, emotional, and spiritual support to over 200 individuals and their families as they face death and learn to cope with loss and change. As a volunteer-driven organization, we greatly rely upon the inspiration, generosity, and talent of many people to make Zen Hospice Project a dynamic community and a successful model of joining spiritual insight with social action.

Our volunteer programs employ mindfulness, compassionate engagement, and self-reflection to support volunteers in gaining insight into service work and hospice care.

Zen Hospice Project volunteers embody a cross-section of life experiences and professions, ranging in age from 20 to 75. A number of cultures are represented and our community outreach efforts continue to broaden the ethnic diversity of our volunteers. Although the predominant spiritual practice among our volunteers is Buddhist, all other spiritual traditions respected and welcomed. 

In over 23 years of service, more than…

3,500 Residents received hospice care by our Volunteer Caregivers.
7,500 Family members received support from Volunteer Caregivers and Special Skill Volunteers.
325 Special Skill Volunteers provided extra service.
1,500 Volunteer Caregivers served at the bedside.
425,000 Hours of compassionate service by volunteers helped to fulfill our mission of serving the dying.

Photo © A. Raja Hornstein
(This page and Volunteer Program home page)

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