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].