For University of Missouri soccer player Ashlyn, volunteering with Caring Hearts and Hands of Columbia isn’t just an extracurricular—it’s a calling rooted in a personal mission of compassion.
After losing a close family friend who was in hospice care, Ashlyn saw firsthand how treatment at the end of life can vary drastically. “I knew I wanted to be a part of the change,” she shared. That desire led her to CHHC, a local nonprofit hospice alternative dedicated to treating both patients and caregivers like family.
Ashlyn first came across CHHC while filling out an online application to get involved. From the moment she stepped through the doors, she felt an immediate connection. The warm welcome she received and the organization’s deep commitment to truly caring for people—not just managing their care—made it clear she had found the right place.
What started as a standard inquiry through an online form quickly became something more personal when Volunteer Coordinator Deb Portell reached out directly to schedule a tour. From that first interaction, Ashlyn sensed something different—CHHC felt like family – felt like home – and its mission deeply aligned with her own values.
Now a consistent volunteer—committing to one or two shifts a week—Ashlyn balances her time on the field with her work at CHHC, driven by a long-term goal of entering the pediatric medical field.
Her first experience supporting a family through the death of a loved one left a lasting impression. In that moment, she realized that offering comfort didn’t always require the right words—sometimes, simply being present was what mattered most. Through her time at CHHC, she learned the importance of listening deeply and validating pain without needing to solve it.
The sense of purpose Ashlyn found at CHHC quickly extended beyond her own experience. She began sharing the impact it had on her with her teammates, and soon, other players from the Mizzou soccer program joined in.
What sets CHHC apart, Ashlyn says, is the way it treats everyone—from patients to caregivers—as family. “Even when someone has to go to a bigger hospital, I still think about them.”
To anyone considering volunteering, Ashlyn emphasizes that CHHC is far more than a typical hospice program—it’s a place that feels like home. It’s where every moment spent and every gesture of care truly matters, offering volunteers a chance to make a real, lasting impact in people’s lives.
As we celebrate National Volunteer Month this April, we extend our deepest gratitude to Ashlyn and every volunteer who has walked through our doors. Your time, presence, and heart make CHHC what it is—a place where love and dignity are never in short supply.
