“I love these chimes because I use them. I walk around the participants as they're seated, usually with their eyes closed and I can bring it around their head, so they're actually sort of surrounded by this beautiful chiming sound. Very peaceful, very calming.” Alex Lorraine
Volunteer Alex Lorraine: In Her Own Words
“I've been volunteering with Providence Community Health for almost 10 years. I came in as a hospice volunteer. From there, I moved into the grief department, and I have recently shifted into the Adult Day Health services department where I do energy work with the participants. And I also am leading a sound therapy group in the afternoons.
People may think that Sound Therapy is sort of "woo-woo" "new-agey" stuff, but it actually is evidence-based, coming from the Sound Healing Institute in Sausalito, where we have been trained. It really helps people that are very anxious; they usually relax, and they sleep better.
One of the most touching moments I've had was when I was working on grief phone calls, where we call grieving loved ones every three months for up to a year. I was making my last phone call to someone and I said, "Hello, this is Alex from Grief services." And the guy said "Oh, what do you want?" I said, "Well, I'm just calling because it's almost a year anniversary of your brother's death, and this'll be the last call."
And suddenly there was silence on the other side of the phone. And he said, "How did you know?" And I said, "How did I know what?" "How did you know it was my brother's birthday today?" he responded. "I've been sitting here being so sad, wondering who I could possibly call because I feel like I'm just a burden on everyone. And here you are. You're just an angel."
And he and I had the most beautiful, memorable conversation, and it sits with me today in my heart. It was a great experience.
People often ask me, 'how can you possibly do that kind of work? I could never be with people as they're dying.' And I say, you don't have to do that. There's clerical work, there's fundraising work. We have a big gala every year. There's Adult Day Health services. We have a horticultural program there. We have a geology department. We have some people that come in and play bingo with people. We have musicians that come in and sing with everyone.
So, whatever your talents are, you can probably come in here and there's a place for you! And I'll can tell you, it's been one of the best experiences of my life. I have made so many dear friends over the time, both with the staff and with my volunteering cohorts. So, I invite you to come on in and just check it out!