04/22/2026
This National Hospice Volunteer Week, we are honored to shine a light on someone who has shaped the very heart of our volunteer program for more than 30 years, Karen Denton.
Karen is more than our Volunteer Coordinator. She is a compassionate leader, a fierce advocate for others, and truly an angel to everyone around her. With a servant’s heart and a deep understanding of what families are walking through, she has built a volunteer program that many consider the gold standard, a “gold star” model of what hospice support can and should be.
Karen believes anyone can be a hospice volunteer. You do not have to fit a certain mold or have a specific background. You can bring your own gifts, your own talents, your own heart, and she will help you find the perfect place to serve. Under her leadership, volunteers are not just placed; they are valued, supported, and equipped to make a real difference.
She often reminds us, “You can’t love someone, live with someone, and not be affected by the sickness they are going through.” That truth is at the center of why volunteers matter so deeply. When families are carrying the emotional and physical weight of caring for someone they love, our volunteers step in with presence, compassion, and relief. They offer a listening ear, a gentle hand, and a moment to breathe. Because of them, families feel seen, supported, and not so alone.
Karen has created a program that extends comfort beyond clinical care. It is an extra layer of love, one that reaches into homes and hearts in ways that only human connection can.
We are so grateful for Karen, for her decades of faithful service, and for the volunteers she inspires every single day!
If you feel called to be part of something this meaningful, we invite you to learn more. Visit www.shepherdscove.org/volunteer to explore becoming a hospice volunteer.
