Hope House is a children's

respite hospice in Union City which takes care of medically fragile children

and provides the children's caregivers with a much-needed break from time

to time.

Hope House has recently launched

the WeCare volunteer program, which extends similar services to non-medically

fragile children with conditions such as mental retardation, developmental

disorders, attention deficit hyperactive disorder and milder forms of

autism and cerebral palsy in their home.

The program matches volunteers

to children in their area. Volunteers undergo approximately 20 hours of

training, including 16 hours of training in the home with the parents.

Volunteer Services Director Jenni Ashmore likens the program to a Big

Brother/Big Sister program as volunteers befriend the child and family,

giving one-on-one social interaction with the child and giving parents

a chance to have a few hours to themselves. Volunteers are asked to commit

to four hours a week and to give a six-month commitment to the family.

"We are looking for people

who love kids and have the heart for working with children with special

needs," said Mark Andrews, Hope House Program Director. "Volunteers

do not necessarily need expertise. They will be trained under the supervision

of a nurse and parent."

The WeCare volunteer program

currently serves people in Fayette, Clayton, Coweta, Henry and South Fulton

counties and will most likely expand in the future to Fulton and DeKalb

counties, as there is a need for the program there as well. Volunteers

entering the program will not only be matched with children according

to situations they will flourish in but also according to proximity.

"We are looking for people

willing to give of themselves to some one who will really appreciate it,"

said Ashmore.

If you are interested in entering

the WeCare volunteer program, phone Ashmore at 770-969-8354 or e-mail

to [email protected].