Barbourville Volunteer Shares the Love at Valentine’s Day and All Year Long
Care Navigator • April 17, 2023
Milly Burkhart, a volunteer at our Barbourville location, has been spreading joy to patients and families for 12 years, but this year she decided to play cupid. On February 14, she helped a couple who had been married for over 40 years celebrate Valentine’s Day in style with a card, flower delivery and their favorite meal.
“I saw an opportunity,” she said. “I don’t often have this kind of opportunity where I have a couple who is in love, acknowledges it and are able to receive such a gift, so I thought ‘this is my opportunity to do something lovely for a lovely couple.’”
Burkhart worked with the husband, who had suffered a traumatic brain injury, to sign the Valentine card, which she mailed to arrive for Valentine’s Day. Burkhart arranged for the wife’s favorite flowers to be delivered first thing Valentine’s morning and personally delivered the couple’s favorite meal of spaghetti and meatballs, salad and dessert that evening.
“I wanted the wife to have all the wonderful things that encompass a Valentine’s Day from her husband,” she said.
When she’s not playing cupid, she usually provides respite care while caregivers run errands or attend appointments. She also helps with light housekeeping, such as vacuuming, doing the dishes and grocery shopping.
“If you want to serve your fellow man, your brothers and sisters, hospice is an excellent way in whatever capacity that you’re able to serve, that you’re able to volunteer, please consider BCN,” she said.
If you’d like to learn more about volunteering with us, visit bgcarenav.org/volunteer.
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Build a memory box Use a cardboard box and decorate all the sides with markers or paint, drawing memories, messages or pictures in memory of your loved one. Place items like mementos of special times or add notes or drawings for your loved one. Have a balloon release ceremony Choose a special time, like your loved one’s birthday or anniversary for the ceremony. Pick a place like a park, beach, field or burial site, to release the balloons. Use helium-filled balloons and have family members write words of remembrance on them. You can talk about how loss and change are a natural part of life, play music or read verses as the balloons are released. Plant a tree or flowers Tending to a growing plant is a symbol of an ongoing relationship and provides many chances to grieve a loss. The life cycle can help you reflect on the memory of your loved one. Read a children's book about grief There are many age-specific children’s books that address grief. Books are a great way to help children open up and begin sharing feelings after a loss. Create memory pages Use fun scrapbooking paper and include Information about your loved one, such as their name, birthday, date of death, favorite food or activities, words to describe them, or things they enjoyed. Phrases like "I remember you when..." or ''I feel closer to you when..." can help provide inspiration. Draw with sidewalk chalk art Decorate your sidewalk or driveway with pictures or words honoring your loved one. Creativity is a great way to help express your feelings and emotions. Make a bracelet Use a variety of beads with different colors, shapes and letters. Pick out beads that represent a special memory or detail about your loved one. Decorate a jar or bottle Apply paint, decoupage or other materials to a jar or a bottle. You can write messages and place them inside the bottle. These messages can be something that you did not get a chance to say, something that you wish you had done or said differently, a favorite memory, or a life update. Alternatively, you may wish to place a small candle or light inside and use it at times you wish to remember your loved one. Utilize a journal You can use a journal to write about or draw special memories of your loved one. Add photos or mementos to make it feel special. Make a playlist Create a list of your loved one’s favorite songs. Listen to this when you want to think about them. Recreate a favorite recipe Prepare a meal or dessert that your loved one enjoyed or made frequently. While you are making it reminisce about memories associated with the food and favorites that you enjoyed together. Our grief care services are for anyone in the community who has experienced the loss of a loved one. Discover how our team can help you and your family by contacting us through our website or calling 855.492.0812 .
