You served your country. Now there is a way to serve your fellow veterans in one of the most meaningful ways possible — by being there when it matters most.
Lighthouse Hospice & Palliative Care is looking for veterans to join their Vet-to-Vet Volunteer Program in the Treasure Valley. As a Vet-to-Vet volunteer, you sit with veterans who are at the end of their lives, share stories, offer companionship, and make sure no veteran faces their final days alone.
Your time, your understanding, and your presence can make a real difference.
What Is the Vet-to-Vet Program?
The Vet-to-Vet program pairs veteran volunteers with veteran hospice patients. The idea is simple but powerful — a fellow veteran understands things that others simply cannot. You share a language, a culture, and a set of experiences that create an instant bond. That connection brings comfort to patients and their families during one of the hardest seasons of life.
As a Vet-to-Vet volunteer, you are not there to provide medical or personal care. You are there to provide companionship. That is it. And it is enough.
How You Can Serve
There are many ways to show up for a fellow veteran as a Vet-to-Vet volunteer:
- Share stories and companionship — sometimes just talking is the greatest gift
- Offer emotional support — your calm, steady presence means more than you know
- Enjoy simple hobbies, crafts, and activities together
- Participate in veteran pinning ceremonies — a deeply moving honor for veterans and their families
Flexible and Meaningful
One of the best things about this program is how flexible it is. You choose the days and times that work for your schedule. If your plans change, your visit can easily be moved to another day. There is no rigid commitment that makes volunteering feel like another obligation.
This is something you do on your terms — and every visit makes a difference.
Where Lighthouse Hospice Serves
Lighthouse Hospice & Palliative Care serves veterans throughout the Treasure Valley, including:
Weiser • Payette • Emmett • Middleton • Meridian • Nampa • Boise • Mountain Home
If you live in or near any of these communities, there is likely a veteran near you who could use your company.
Volunteer Requirements
Lighthouse Hospice covers all required costs. Here is what the process looks like:
- Volunteer packet, background check, and fingerprints
- Approximately 8–10 hours of online and in-person training
- Health screening (TB, flu, and Hepatitis B)
- Driver’s license, auto insurance, and basic computer skills for simple visit charting
The training prepares you well. By the time you walk into your first visit, you will feel ready.
Ready to Make a Difference?
If this feels like something you are called to do, reach out to Jenny McCullough, Volunteer Coordinator at Lighthouse Hospice & Palliative Care:
- Phone: (208) 576-6383
- Email: jenny@lhhllc.com
A Final Thought
Many veterans spend their lives taking care of others. The Vet-to-Vet program is a chance to extend that service — not on a battlefield or a base, but in a quiet room, with a fellow veteran who needs to know that someone sees them, honors them, and will sit with them until the end.
If you have ever wondered how to keep serving after your time in uniform, this may be your answer.
The DAV of Idaho is proud to share volunteer opportunities that connect Idaho’s veteran community in meaningful ways. Learn more about DAV Idaho programs and services at dav-idaho.org or call (208) 429-2140.