Our Mission: To care for anyone experiencing the impact 
of a life-threatening illness or grieving the death of a loved one.
No foolin', April is a special month. There's rejuvenation all around us as color returns to the hillsides, bringing plenty of excitement for those longer, brighter days. But another amazing site we can stop to admire is the selfless work of our dedicated volunteers, as National Volunteer Week will be celebrated across the country April 10-16.

Our volunteers are integral to the care we provide the community, doing everything from providing bedside company to offering a hand with daily chores. These gestures and actions mean a great deal to clients who may not have anyone else to rely on. Without your efforts, we wouldn't be able to continue to provide free, compassionate care to the community, and we thank you for all you do. 

 

HSB Volunteer Appreciation Brunch April 16

With the country recognizing National Volunteer Week in April, we're welcoming all of HSB's own volunteers to an Appreciation Brunch Sat., April 16.

We'll be setting up a beautiful banquet on HSB's lawn 10:30am - 12:30pm as a thank you for the amazing work HSB volunteers do each day.

HSB Volunteers provide care for those who are impacted by a life threatening illness or grieving the loss of a loved one. We are grateful for the time, compassion, support and presence that HSB volunteers provide to those we serve.

National Volunteer Week is celebrated April 10-16.     

The Faces of Hospice of Santa Barbara:

Amara Maliszewski


For Amara Maliszewski, the seeds of becoming a social worker were sewn early. Her mother worked as a nurse at a small HIV/AIDS clinic in the '90s, and Amara saw it as a special honor that her mother got to care for and get to know these patients during their journey through illness and end of life.

Amara went onto earn her Master of Social Work years later, and today she serves clients at Hospice of Santa Barbara. As Intake Coordinator, Amara is often the first contact for people experiencing the impact of a life-threatening illness or the death of a loved one. From there, it's a matter of what these clients need. Amara can assess their needs and connect them with the right HSB program, refer them to other resources in the community and even provide them with early emotional support.

"People typically come here at a point when they're incredibly vulnerable and tender," said Amara. "They're really opening their hearts here in a unique way, and it's so amazing to be invited to be with them in this sacred space."

Amara previously served as a Social Worker in HSB's Patient Care Services, spending most of her time in the community at clients' homes, hospitals and assisted living residences. Her role with clients and their families would vary greatly, as some needed help navigating the maze of treatment options and others needed a safe space to talk. Amara was there to get a feel for their needs and provide the help they needed.

"You form really strong bonds and a huge level of trust and intimacy grows," said Amara.

Five Wishes at HSB


The Alliance for Living and Dying Well is holding a Five Wishes community workshop, an easy-to-use health care directive, at Hospice of Santa Barbara on Thursday April 21.

The Alliance for Living and Dying Well, core supporters for and providers of compassionate end-of-life care, is presenting Five Wishes as an opportunity to facilitate important conversations about end-of-life wishes. Trained professionals and volunteer staff will be on hand to support community members in completing advance health care directives. Notary services are available upon request.

The free event will be held at 4-6 p.m. April 21 at HSB, 2050 Alameda Padre Serra, Ste. 100, Santa Barbara, CA 93103.   

For more information:  allianceforlivinganddyingwell.org
Upcoming Events
Volunteer Training Begins April 26
Volunteer Training sessions will be held on six consecutive Tuesdays April 26-May 31, noon-3p.m. at HSB. Applications are due April 15 and seating is limited. Call Director of Volunteer Services Nicole Romasanta today at (805) 563-8820.

Eligible volunteers are compassionate and interested in providing emotional, social and practical support to people with life-threatening illnesses and their families. More information available here.
 
Ongoing Support Groups
Thank you for all that you do to support our work! 
It is a remarkable privilege to witness the difference we make for those we serve on a daily basis. It is only through your generosity that we can accomplish all that we do and will do in the future.

Donate Now
New Art Exhibition
in May
Save the Date! We're welcoming local artist Gary Chafe to our Leigh Block Gallery on May 11 with an opening reception. Learn more about Gary here and stay tuned for more details.

And don't forget artist Jim Hill's exhibition remains on display until April 29. Call (805) 563-8820 to schedule a viewing. A portion of art sales are donated to HSB.


Jim Hill Art Exhibit
David Selberg with Jim Hill
 

Stroll down 

memory lane 

Click here to read about Hospice of Santa Barbara's journey since opening its doors in 1974 - making it the second oldest hospice in the country.
Contact Us
Hospice of Santa Barbara
2050 Alameda Padre Serra
Ste. 100
Santa Barbara, CA 93103

Phone: (805) 563-8820
Fax: (805) 563-8821


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