During the visit, representatives of the organization and volunteers will tour Jelgava City Hospital and meet its staff, and will also sign a cooperation agreement. Potential volunteers and interested parties will be presented with an educational program developed specifically for this project to work with palliative and hospice care patients, which provides practical knowledge on interacting with seriously ill patients—how to initiate a conversation, be present, respond to various emotional situations, and manage one’s own emotions.
On Thursday, patients at Jelgava City Hospital will also be treated to a “festive table” for the first time, in the spirit of the Līgo celebrations. New volunteers, who have already completed their training, will accompany experienced colleagues from the Riga and Bauska teams to meet the patients in the ward and gain hands-on experience with the “Festive Table” event.
After completing the training and forming a local team, the volunteers are expected to visit patients in the Internal Medicine Department on a weekly basis. A volunteer team is being formed—there are various ways to support and get involved The formation of the Jelgava City Hospital volunteer team is still ongoing. To ensure the successful implementation of “Festive Table” activities and regular patient visits, the team needs at least six volunteers; however, in practice, a larger number of participants is needed so that participants can cover for one another; therefore, anyone interested is invited to sign up for an introductory visit on June 18 at 11:00 a.m. During the meeting, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the nature of volunteer work, the “Festive Table” initiative, the various ways to get involved, and training opportunities, as well as to sign a volunteer agreement for this hospital. “The “Svētku galds” project would not be possible without the volunteers who visit patients in hospitals, nor without the supporters who help provide treats or create a festive atmosphere with music, flowers, drawings, or small gifts. That is why we invite the residents of Jelgava and anyone whose heart is moved to be there for others and not abandon people at the end of their lives, to spend their time meaningfully and find fulfillment, so that together we can bring a little more joy to the daily lives of the seriously ill, to join the “Hospiss LV” movement. We want to encourage you to know that there are many different ways to support and get involved—visiting the hospital is just one of countless ways! You can donate, bake cakes, draw cards, knit socks, write letters, arrange flower arrangements, play music, or read poetry—any form of involvement provides invaluable support and brings warmth to patients!” urges Sintija Reinberga, volunteer coordinator at “Hospiss LV.”.
To sign up for a visit and get involved with “Hospiss LV,” interested individuals are invited to submit an application by filling out the application form on the website: https://hospiss.lv/pieteikuma-forma/.
If you have any questions, please contact Sintija Reinberga, the volunteer coordinator at “Hospiss LV,” by email at [email protected].
“With the addition of the Jelgava Hospital, our volunteer movement will now include ten hospitals
in eight Latvian cities, which is a testament to the fact that public awareness of a dignified and humane end of life is steadily growing. Over the past six years, we have received an overwhelming response from patients, their loved ones, and hospital staff, who acknowledge that sometimes emotional connection is what matters most. “Svētku galds” has long since ceased to be just a project—it is a system that we are purposefully building together with hospitals and volunteers throughout Latvia, serving as a reminder of our humanity, our values, and our ability to be there for one another when it is needed most,” explains Ilze Zosule, co-founder of “Hospiss LV.”.
About the project:
The “Festive Table” project has been running since 2019, and as part of it, volunteers visit hospitals every week in Riga, Cēsis, Valmiera, Bauska, Liepāja, Kuldīga, and Ventspils, bringing joy to patients not only with treats, coffee, and tea, but most of all with their presence and leisurely conversations. Thanks to volunteers and donors, joy and positive emotions are brought to wards where seriously ill patients are staying at least once a week, making their hospital stay more pleasant. To improve patients’ well-being, various concerts are also held regularly. To date, these events have brought joy to more than 16,000 patients.
