When I started volunteering at Hope & Cope, I wasn’t thinking about palliative care. I was a college student, 19 years old, trying to find a meaningful way to give back. I had volunteered the summer before at a geriatric centre. I loved that experience—talking with residents, learning their stories. So I wanted to do more.
I found Hope & Cope through the CIUSSS and ended up meeting Rifka. She talked to me about opportunities in oncology. That’s what I was looking for because cancer has touched my family. But then she mentioned palliative care. I wasn’t sure at first. It sounded heavy. Emotional. But I thought back to my time at the geriatric centre, and I felt maybe I could do it. Maybe I had something to offer.
Looking back, I’m so glad I said yes.
My first day, and learning the ropes
The first time I walked into palliative care, I wasn’t alone. I shadowed another volunteer, someone who had been doing this for a while. For twelve weeks, I watched and learned. I paid attention to how she spoke to patients. How she listened.
By the end of the training, I felt ready to do my first rounds alone.
A typical shift is about four hours. I start by reading the notes from the other volunteers—how the patients are doing, any changes. Then I make my own notes and start my rounds, visiting each person, one at a time. Sometimes we talk. Sometimes we sit quietly. Sometimes, I just offer presence.
I also make coffee for families, clean the family room, and put out cookies. I know those things sound small, but they matter. They’re the things that make a hard day just a little softer.
The shift I didn’t see coming
I used to think palliative care meant sadness. That it was a place where people waited to die. But now I know that’s not the full story. There’s something else that happens here, something gentler, deeper. I’ve seen it.
At first, patients and families come in overwhelmed. Everything feels raw. But over time, there’s this quiet shift. A sense of peace begins to settle in. People start to open up. They laugh more. They rest. They share. There’s still pain, but there’s also healing. And not just for them; for me, too.
People start to open up. They laugh more. They rest. They share. There’s still pain, but there’s also healing. And not just for them; for me, too.
One of my favourite parts is the virtual reality program. When I help a patient use it, I see them light up. I’ve seen people who were quiet and tired come alive, just for a moment, as they explore another world. It’s like giving them a breath of something new. Something joyful. Those are the moments I hold onto.
Why I continue to volunteer
I think a lot about the times I felt helpless when people in my life had cancer. Being here, showing up, doing what I can, it helps me heal, too.
And I’m not alone. The other volunteers are kind and supportive. They teach me, and they trust me even if I’m much younger. Sometimes, they send me to younger patients, thinking I might connect with them more easily. That means a lot.
If you’re thinking about volunteering, I’ll say this: it’s not always easy. But it’s worth it. That’s what volunteering at Hope & Cope gave me. A chance to be part of something real. Something that matters.
If I had one message to share, it would be this: giving back is powerful. It helps others, but it also helps you. Volunteering has changed me in ways I didn’t expect. It brings meaning, connection, even healing. It’s something that fills your heart and makes the world feel just a little bit kinder. Honestly, it’s a win-win.
And if you have a bit of time and a desire to help, why not use it to make someone else’s day a little lighter?
Jessica Gianetti volunteers in the Palliative Care Unit at the Jewish General Hospital for Hope & Cope.
Inspired by this story? Hope & Cope volunteers make a real difference in the lives of people with cancer and their families.
Whether you have a few hours a week or want to support our mission through a donation, there are many ways to get involved.
To become a Hope & Cope volunteer:
Visit hopeandcope.ca/volunteer-application-form-2.
To support Hope & Cope with a donation:
Visit hopeandcope.ca/donate.
