July 2017 Volunteer Spotlight: Jim and Cathy Donald

Jul 17, 2017

Meet Jim and Cathy Donald, two valuable volunteers at Campbell County Health.

Losing a child can cause terrible grief for a family. When Jim and Cathy Donald lost their son nearly 10 years ago, each experienced the loss in different ways. They both sought help from CCH Hospice’s bereavement support group and now volunteer their time to co-facilitate the group several times a year. They’ve been volunteering for about seven years now. Both have completed the 16-hour Hospice volunteer training course, but they emphasize that they attend the group to listen.

“We don’t give advice or opinions,” said Jim. “After our son J.D. passed away we honor him by doing something to help others.”

Cathy says that she learns something from each person she meets. “They teach us too,” she says.

The bereavement support group is open to anyone who has suffered a loss, and some participants attend the 12-week course more than once. Cathy says that everyone’s grief is different, and people work through their grief on their own timeline. She understands what they’re going through.

Jim and Cathy have been married for 44 years, and have always done pretty much everything together. Jim retired from UPS in 2016 after 30 years and Cathy was a school crossing guard for over 20 years. Now she works in the Campbell County School District Transportation department as a school bus aide.

“Jim and Cathy bring a special gift to our group,” says Melisa Haddix, social worker at Hospice. “They are invaluable to our bereavement program. We appreciate their time, dedication and honesty in their process. They make such a difference in the lives of others.”

Jim and Cathy embody the spirit of volunteerism—giving their time for the opportunity to help others. Thanks Jim and Cathy, for all you do!

If you're interested in learning more about volunteering with CCH, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Chris Buxton at 307.688.1536 or visit www.cchwyo.org/volunteers.