Members of the service learning club, PSC Serves You, a new student organization at Potomac State College of West Virginia University, underwent training with representatives of Mountain Hospice, Inc., a local, non-profit agency that assists patients and their families to live as fully as possible during a terminal illness through an in-home program.
According to Ruth Schneider, an education instructor at PSC and one of the Service Learning Club's advisors, the purpose of this organization is learning through community service. “Members of this club will learn about Keyser's community service needs and actively work to meet some of those needs,” explained Schneider. “Through community outreach, our students get the opportunity to establish portfolios and resumes in the fields of education, pre-social work and sociology.”
Training to become a volunteer at Mountain Hospice, Inc. is free and includes three-to 10-hours of classes and on-the-job training. Working with the Potomac State group was Julie Miller, volunteer coordinator; Lorre Burgess, social worker; and Kim Staggs, LPN.
During the training, volunteers closely examine their attitudes and feelings towards death. They discuss the physical and emotional aspects of terminal disease and bereavement care following death. They become familiar with the hospice purpose and confidentiality laws. Volunteers also learn how to communicate more effectively and how to work as a team.
According to Miller, Potomac State's service learning club is the first set of volunteers from Mineral County. They will work at Dawn View Nursing Home in Fort Ashby and Heartland Nursing Home in Keyser.
PSC Serves You was established a year ago. In addition to Schneider, the club is advised by Mollie Ravenscroft.
