DOWN EAST HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS
OF Washington COUNTY
45 years of Compassionate Care
207-454-9204
Dear Down East Hospice Volunteers and Friends,
As we begin a new year, I want to thank our volunteers, donors, and community members for the continued support of Down East Hospice Volunteers. For 45 years, our organization has provided free, compassionate support to individuals and families in Washington County during serious illness, end of life, and grief. Every hour volunteered and every contribution made directly supports individuals and families who need this care.
We want to thank the hospice volunteers who give their time and commitment. Volunteers ask for nothing in return and continue to show up for individuals and families throughout the year. They are the heart of our organization, and their dedication makes this work possible.
If you are interested in becoming a hospice volunteer, we will be offering volunteer training in the spring and fall of 2026. Hospice volunteers provide non-medical support such as companionship, reading to clients, running errands, and giving caregivers time away. No medical background or special experience is required, only a willingness to offer time and support to others in the community. If you would like to learn more or have questions about hospice volunteering, please contact us.
Thank you for being part of our mission and for supporting compassionate care in our community. We are grateful for your dedication, and for your continued trust in Down East Hospice Volunteers.
Sincerely,
Arielle Richardson
Executive Director
Down East Hospice Volunteers
(207) 454-9204
If you have questions about medical hospice in Washington County, please contact
Community Health and Counseling Services at (207) 255-8311
What Does It Take To Be A Hospice Volunteer?
Are you a good listener? If so, you are 90% on your way to be a Down East Hospice Volunteer of Washington County.
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If you have thought about becoming a hospice volunteer, now is the time. You will never be asked to do anything with which you are uncomfortable. Your schedule can be very flexible, working out the days and times that work for you when you are providing compassionate companionship for your hospice client.
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Every act of kindness, no matter how small, does make a difference. You can make a difference. Join our team. There is no special background needed to volunteer; a medical background is not necessary. Our hospice volunteers are men and women of all ages from all walks of life.
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Call us today to become a hospice volunteer, it is a rewarding experience.
Volunteer Training Fall Graduates
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Down East Hospice Volunteers is proud to have graduated eight new hospice volunteers
who completed the fall 2025 training course at Calais Community Hospital. Participants learned about topics such as grief and bereavement, setting healthy boundaries, spirituality, and supporting families through the dying process.
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A special thank you to all of our presenters for sharing their time and expertise, to the current volunteers who stopped by to meet the new trainees and offer encouragement, and of course to DEHV Executive Director Barbara Barnett for facilitating the training.​​
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Our next training will be in the Spring of 2026 at Down East Community Hospital in Machias.
​Anyone who may be interested in that training or who has questions can contact us at:
info@downeasthospice.org or (207) 454-7521 x9126
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An application may be downloaded by clicking the icon below:
"There are 4 kinds of people in the world.
Those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers."
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~ Former First Lady
Rosalynn Carter
2025 Fall Graduates
Back row: Ellen Brown (Perry), DEHV Board President and hospice volunteer Paul Strickland, Carolyn Bourdeau (Whiting), Denise Legrow (Roque Bluffs), Helen Swallow (Pembroke), Shawna Rafferty (Calais), Samantha Meserve (Baileyville), DEHV Executive Director, Barbara Barnett. Front row: longtime hospice volunteer and reiki master Arlene Wren, Amanda Schrader (Pembroke), Isabella Waldorf (Eastport), DEHV Executive Assistant Arielle Richardson.
Announcements
Down East Hospice Volunteers Announces New Executive Director
The Board of Directors of Down East Hospice Volunteers is pleased to announce the promotion of Arielle Richardson to the position of Executive Director, effective January 1, 2026.
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An Eastport native, Arielle has been a valued member of the Down East Hospice Volunteers team, serving as Executive Assistant and as a hospice volunteer. She has demonstrated exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills, along with a deep understanding of Human Resources and case management. Arielle is dedicated to the organization's 44-year mission of providing compassionate, volunteer-based support to Downeast individuals and families facing end-of-life illness and grief.
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In her new role, Arielle will oversee the daily operations of the organization, guide its strategic direction, and continue to nurture the spirit of volunteerism that lies at the heart of Down East Hospice Volunteers.
Down East Hospice Volunteers - Welcoming Our New Executive Assistant
Down East Hospice Volunteers welcomes Brittnee Elu to the DEHV team as our new Executive Assistant.
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Brittney comes to DEHV with a strong background in administrative support, keeping daily operations organized and on track, and experience handling sensitive information. I know she'll bring her compassion, organizational skills, and desire to serve our community to her work with DEHV, and she's excited to learn and grown in this role while supporting our mission.
Down East Hospice Volunteers announces the winner of a recent raffle to benefit DEHV. Rhoda Dougherty of Perry won a grill graciously donated by Johnson's Tru Value of Calais and a canvas tote of grilling goodies put together by DEHV. Thank you to all who bought raffle tickets and continue to support the wonderful organization.
Bulletin Board
WHAT'S NEW FOR WINTER 2026
Congratulations to Down East Hospice Raffle Winners!
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Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets, shared our raffle with family and friends, and their community members. Your support helps DEHV to continue to offer compassionate care to our community. We also appreciate and want to thank the artists & volunteers who donate their wares for our annual raffles.
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The Whale Watch Raffle winner will be drawn this summer and tickets are still available. Please help us spread the word so friends and family can take the opportunity to win this very popular boat adventure. It's always a huge hit!
Winner of our
Christmas Holiday Basket Kenneth Sprague of Grand Lake Stream
Winner of Butterfly Quilt
Crystal Bore of Perry
Winner of handmade dollhouse
Emma Geel, Robbinston
HONEY BEER FOR HOSPICE
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Winter is the perfect season to enjoy a
special limited-time brew created by the Lubec Brewing Co. with proceeds to benefit DEHV of Washington County. Thanks to generous people like Gale White & McKinley Jones, owners of Lubec Brewing Co., and Arlene & Mark Wren of Robbinston who provide the honey for this special beer. Left to right, Mark Wren,
Arlene Wren, Barbara Barnett, and the owner of the Lubec Brewing Company.
Down East Hospice Volunteers wins the Community Matters $4,000 grant award sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank.
Down East Hospice Volunteers of Washington County proudly accepts the grant award from Bangor Savings Bank. We want to thank everyone who voted for DEHV.
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From left to right
Front row: Judy Dakin, hospice board member and volunteer, Carol Flores, hospice board member and volunteer.
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Middle row: Linda Gralenski, hospice board member and volunteer, Maegan Alley, Assistant Branch Manager.
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Back row: Molly Sprague, VP Branch Manager, Barbara Barnett, Executive Directo of DEHV, Hospice Volunteers, Deke Talbot, Diane Clark, and Linda Mills, Dynesha Hooper, teller, Magenta Johnson, teller,
Photo: Sydney Verge, teller
A Volunteer's Comment...
From a recent volunteer commenting upon completion of her training:
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" Every class was well prepared and thought-provoking. I feel I gained invaluable knowledge about life as well as some skills I can use to be of use to others. Every adult would benefit from your class."
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~ Dawn Loper
New Hospice Volunteer
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please reach out to us. There is a lot of information about the organization and hospice volunteering on this site.
We are always available to answer your questions.
Contact: Arielle Richardson, Executive Director
207-454-9204 E-mail: info@downeasthospice.org
Down East Hospice Volunteers was honored to be recognized
on behalf of the Maine State Legislature
for their volunteer hospice services in Washington County.
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This certificate was presented to
Barbara Barnett, Executive Director of
Volunteer Services and Paul Strickland,
a board member and hospice volunteer.
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The presenters were Representative Anne Perry and
Senator Marriane Moore, both of whom have been
active supporters of DEHV.
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Beth C. Wright offers travel assistance
Online Zoom Cancer Support Group
Caring Bridge shares 14 Life-Changing Tips to Relieve Caregiver Stress.
Please click on the PDF link to read the
e-book.
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Safe Harbor Cancer Support Meetings are set up on a confidential Zoom meeting site.
Call 207-664-0335
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In-Person Bereavement Follow-Up:
Please reach out to our office: 454-9204
or by email: info@downeasthospice.org for more information.
Down East Hospice Volunteers
of Washington County
is pleased to announce their
44th anniversary
of providing compassionate care to the county
For Our Caregivers
We honor the importance of talking about the end of life and encouraging all to reduce the fear and stigma the words hospice and death offer. The link below will bring you to our education page where many articles, recommended reading, videos, and podcasts are available to you without leaving this site. Additionally, Down East Hospice has a library available to their clients in our Calais office.
Please allow a few brief moments for videos to upload after clicking on the link below.
Have You Heard of The Conversation Project?
The guide for families to begin to have the conversation about End of Life wishes.
In addition to some helpful and heartfelt blogs,
they have some wonderful and informative videos on their website for you to start your
own conversation with your loved ones. An "Estate Planning for the heart."
The link below will take you directly to their page.
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You can easily become a subscriber to the DEHV Blog by providing your email
address.
You may unsubscribe at any time.
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Thank you
