ASHLAND, Ky. — Community Hospice has scheduled a new volunteer orientation course. The three-day session will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, March 3-5.

The sessions will be at the Community Hospice office at 1480 Carter Avenue, Ashland.

Although volunteers are needed for a variety of duties, there is a particular need for those interested in providing short in-home caregiver breaks, emotional support and visitation, nursing home visits, companionship and reading.

Volunteers determine when and how often they are available to assist — a few hours a week or just occasionally. All volunteers must complete the required training to be certified.

Community Hospice currently has more than 200 active volunteers in their nine-county service area — Boyd, Greenup, Carter, Lawrence, Elliott, Martin and Johnson counties in Kentucky, along with Lawrence and Scioto counties, Ohio.

Anyone interested in becoming a hospice volunteer and wants to reserve a space is asked to contact LuAnn Vance, director of volunteers, at 606-329-1890 or 1-800-926-6184.