Twice a week BCN volunteers call each patient to get their order from a menu selection and deliver the food to their home. This service allows patients to retain autonomy and independence while accepting the generosity of friends and the community. 

“Our patients are in the last days, weeks or months of life so we want to help them have things that they need, but also the things that they want, so I'm really grateful for the partnership with Spark Café,” Jennifer Hubbard, volunteer and community liaison in the Frankfort Office, said.

Executive Director of Spark Café Kyle Fannin knows firsthand the value and dignity that hospice services provide to patients and families. When the opportunity to partner with BCN arose, he thought it was a no-brainer. 

“The partnership with BCN is a natural because you don’t do that work unless you care about people,” Fannin said. “Prior to the passing of my mother and father, I knew the work that hospice did, but before you deal with hospice, you have no idea the work they do and how much it helps.” 

Currently volunteers deliver meals to a few patients and families but hope to be able to grow this service to feed even more. BCN volunteers aren’t required to meet a certain number of volunteer hours per month, and meal deliveries involve a minimal time commitment of about two hours per week. 

“This partnership with Spark allows our patients to enjoy food that they used to enjoy when they could go to restaurants,” Rachel Moody, social worker in the Frankfort Office, said. “It gives these patients a sense of normalcy and contact with our volunteer.” 

Volunteers play a vital role in patient and family care. Our Medicare participation requirements state that 5% of patient care hours must be completed by volunteers. 

“Our volunteers have beautiful hearts and provide extra support and care to patients and families,” Shellie Brown, director of volunteer operations, said. “We don’t focus a lot on that number because if you are meeting the need, you’re going to meet that requirement. We’re just here to love on our patients and support them.”   

Volunteers come from varied backgrounds, bringing rich, diverse experiences and talents that support patients, often in unexpected ways. BCN is always looking for more volunteers to fulfill a variety of needs with warmth and compassion. All volunteers receive training on best practices within the healthcare setting. To learn more about volunteering and to sign up, visit our volunteer page.

Spark Café opened March 2019 in Versailles, Ky., with the mission of alleviating food insecurity in Woodford County by providing nutritious, farm-to-table meals in a community space that educates, entertains and accepts all who enter. To date, they have served more than 40,000 meals throughout Central Kentucky. Spark Café operates on a pay-it-forward, pay-what-you-can or volunteer model. Learn more about Spark on their website at sparkcommunitycafeky.org.