CaringMatters

05/29/2026

For children and teens grieving the death of someone significant, connection and understanding can make all the difference.

Camp Erin Montgomery County gives grieving children a chance to heal, remember, laugh, and simply be kids alongside others who truly understand what they’re going through. We’re honored to share this special video highlighting the impact of Camp Erin and the importance of grief support for young people and families in our community.

A heartfelt thank you to Bar-T Mountainside for hosting Camp Erin Montgomery County again this year and to Mike Springirth and Montgomery County Council TV for helping share the Camp Erin story.

CaringMatters (founded as Hospice Caring in 1989) serves children, adults and families facing serious illness and grieving the death of a loved one. CaringMa...

05/21/2026

04/30/2026

To our incredible CaringMatters volunteers—this is for you!

Your compassion, time, and dedication make a difference every single day for those navigating serious illness, caregiving, end of life, loss and grief. We are endlessly grateful for all that you give and the care you bring to our community.

Thank you for being the heart of CaringMatters!

04/30/2026

National Volunteer Month celebrates the people who make compassion visible every day. Sandra Gallagher is one of those CaringMatters volunteers who brings decades of experience, empathy, and heart to every interaction.

After a 36-year career teaching middle school English, Sandra found her way to CaringMatters through a former student. The student often left class with a counseling pass for Good Grief Club (GGC) and hearing how much the program helped the student left a lasting impression. From that moment on, Sandra knew that volunteering with CaringMatters would be part of her next chapter.

Today, Sandra supports both the Good Grief Club and Volunteer Helping Hands and occasionally provides transportation for patients. Through training, she was especially impacted by hearing real stories of patients and the meaningful relationships formed with volunteers. This impactful insight continues to shape her approach to her volunteer work.

Sandra’s advice for new volunteers reflects her own journey: “Go for it but don’t expect to know exactly where you fit right away. It takes time. You’re not job hunting; you’re discovering where your unique gifts can make the greatest impact.”

One experience that stands out for Sandra is her relationship with a current patient who was initially hesitant to accept support. Over time, that hesitation transformed into a deep and trusting connection. Now, they spend time reading together, sharing stories, and even exchanging small moments of joy like watching dog and garden videos to brighten difficult days.

Beyond individual connections, Sandra sees her role as part of something bigger: building a stronger, more compassionate community, supporting students through grief or connecting someone to Volunteer Helping Hands resources. Through volunteering, Sandra has discovered new ways to connect, support, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Learn more about CaringMatters and all the ways to get involved at CaringMatters.org

04/30/2026

A heartfelt thank you to all of our CaringMatters volunteers who joined us for this morning’s Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast at the Cottage.

It was such a meaningful way to celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Month—gathering together, sharing gratitude, and honoring the compassion you bring to our community each and every day.

And to all of our CaringMatters volunteers, whether you were with us this morning or not—thank you for your service, your dedication, and the countless ways you show up for those who need it most. We are so grateful for you.

04/29/2026

As we come to the last few days of National Volunteer Month, we would like to highlight Karen Tuohy, one of CaringMatters’ volunteers that brings both professional experience and heartfelt empathy to every person they serve.

Her journey with CaringMatters began in the late 2000s, when she came across a small newspaper ad for an organization called Hospice Caring (now CaringMatters). As a retired nurse, this volunteer role felt like a natural fit, but after she got involved it quickly became something much more meaningful.

During volunteer training, Karen found the experience to be deeply emotional and impactful, especially the process of reflecting on life and idea of letting go. The training not only prepared her to support individuals facing serious illnesses, but also helped her understand and care for families, while easing the uncertainty of entering someone’s home for the first time as a volunteer.
Over the years, Karen’s volunteer work has taken many forms, such as sitting quietly with someone so a caregiver can rest helping with errands, sharing conversations, or simply being present. She approaches each visit with one simple question: “What can I do for you?”

One experience that has stayed with Karen is her time with a certain client. Despite living with significant pain, the client remained focused on making the most of her remaining time: preparing gifts, framing her artwork for her grandchildren, and gathering loved ones for a final celebration. Together, Karen and her client shared meaningful moments talking, crying, and honoring a well-lived life. Her client passed peacefully just days after that gathering, leaving a lasting impression of strength and grace.

Through their compassion and dedication, Karen helps ensure that no one faces the end of life alone—and that every moment is met with dignity and care. Thank you to Karen and all of our CaringMatters volunteers for the everything you do for our community!

For information on CaringMatters' fall volunteer training session, visit CaringMatters.org/volunteer

04/28/2026

The next volunteer in our volunteer appreciation spotlight is Chris Daly, a longtime CaringMatters volunteer, who found his way to the organization after moving to the area and being encouraged by a friend already involved with CaringMatters. “You will make a difference for people who are in need, you will meet a great group of people and make lots of new friends,” the friend told him—and Chris took that advice to heart.

Over the years he’s visited patients, driven them to appointments, unloaded storage units for Volunteer Helping Hands’ clients, and supported major events like the Silver Linings Gala and Raise Your Glass. Chris has also volunteered at Camp Erin since 2015, where he does everything from being a big buddy, emptying trash cans, maintaining water stations, helping set up and serve meals, as well as playing the guitar and singing at the campfire.

Camp Erin, they say, is full of big, unforgettable impressions. Chris remembers that once, as a big buddy, a young boy was asked by another camper how his sister died; the boy initially whispered, “I don’t know.” By the end of camp, while sharing breakfast, the boy told his new friend exactly what happened and that he’d been with her. Chris remembers feeling that this was “a big moment for both of these young boys.”

One of Chris’ favorite Camp Erin activities is singing around the campfire. Campers suggest their favorite songs. One year, an unusual song by Aerosmith was requested: "Never Miss a Thing." According to Chris, “It's not typical campfire material and we were almost going to cut it, until we found out it was the Camper's parents’ wedding song - parents who were now dead and in fact missing lots of things. Never before or since has an Aerosmith song brought me to tears.”

When asked what he would say to prospective volunteers, Chris was clear: “People’s biggest reluctance is that working with death is too sad, but volunteering here is joyous and deeply meaningful and yes, at times deeply sad, but it is an experience that is full of life and meaning” he said. Chris’ advice: find where you fit into the story—bereavement support, visiting patients and families, or event support—whatever aligns with your strengths and where you are in your own life.”

Chris reminds us that when you show up with compassion and an open heart, you don’t just support others—you become part of something deeply meaningful that stays with you long after the moment has passed.

For more information on volunteer opportunities, visit CaringMatters.org/volunteer

04/27/2026

This past weekend, 50 grieving children and teens found connection, understanding, and hope at Camp Erin Montgomery County —and it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of Eluna and New York Life Insurance Company Foundation.

We’re especially grateful to Yaniv Barad, of New York Life, for spending the entire day Saturday capturing the magic, compassion, and joy that make Camp Erin so special.

Thank you for helping us create a space where no child has to grieve alone.

(Photo by Audrey Rothstein Photography - our other amazing Camp Erin photographer! More photos from both Yaniv and Audrey to come!)

04/27/2026

This National Volunteer Month, we’re celebrating the people who make compassion visible every day. Jade Davis is one of those volunteers' offering empathy, guidance, and unwavering support to those who are navigating loss.

Jade’s journey with CaringMatters began in 2011 after the loss of her spouse at a young age. Seeking connection and understanding, she joined a spousal/partner bereavement support group - an experience that would later inspire her to give back in a meaningful way.

In 2013, Jade began volunteering, supporting both the Volunteer Helping Hands and Adult Bereavement programs. Over the years, she has co-facilitated a wide range of support groups, including those focused on spousal loss, parent loss, and su***de loss. Today, Jade facilitates the same spousal/partner loss group that once supported her, bringing her journey full circle. She also mentors fellow facilitators and contributes to the Adult Bereavement training program, helping strengthen support for the entire community.

One message from the volunteer training has stayed with Jade throughout her volunteer work: “It’s not about us.” I find that phrase to be a powerful anchor—one that centers the needs and perspectives of the people we have the honor of serving above all else. I’ve done a great deal of study and exploration, and nothing has come close to capturing the appropriate orientation for this work as well as those four simple, powerful words. It’s about the people in front of us and how we can best support them in ways that are respectful, compassionate, empathetic, sensitive to their needs, and truly deserving of the trust they place in us.”

For Jade, no single moment stands out above the rest, because to her each interaction is meaningful. She describes her work as a profound privilege: being present with individuals during life’s most difficult moments and witnessing the connection and healing that can happen when people come together in support.

In every group she leads, and every person she supports, Jade carries forward a quiet but powerful truth: that care, connection, and compassion can help light the way through even the darkest moments.

For more information on CaringMatters' volunteer opportunities, visit, CaringMatters.org/volunteer

04/23/2026

Congratulations to our newest CaringMatters volunteers on completing their three-day training last week! During Volunteer Appreciation Month, we’re celebrating the incredible people who make this work possible—and we couldn’t be more grateful or excited to welcome this new group into our community.

For information on our next training session, September 22, 23 & 24, 2026, please visit https://www.caringmatters.org/program-volunteer-training