Since the founding of Zen Caregiving Project in 1988, formerly known as Zen Hospice Project, our volunteer program has been the heart of the organization offering volunteer opportunities in palliative, hospice, and chronic care settings. We offer a variety of ways volunteers can become involved at Zen Caregiving Project, and we welcome you to consider how you can serve.
Our volunteer program emphasizes a mindful, human-centered approach in which the spiritual and emotional needs of those we care for are primary.

The Application Process
Our Volunteer Caregiver commitment is a minimum of one year of service. This commitment includes one weekly shift of five hours in morning, afternoon, or evening, one day per week (weekdays or on the weekends). Shift assignments are the same day and time each. Applicants accepted into our program will undergo an initial 40-hour training over a 10-day period of time. New Volunteer applications will open during the first week of December 2023 for our Spring 2024 training and will be posted here on the website. Check back on this page in December to find the application. In the meantime, you can go to our Volunteer FAQs for more information.
Volunteers at Laguna Honda Hospital and in the Tenderloin

Zen Caregiving Project (ZCP) volunteers have served at Laguna Honda Hospital for more than 30 years. In 2022, we extended our volunteer program to the Cadillac Hotel, offering a unique and challenging opportunity for volunteers to offer our model of compassionate care to a traditionally underserved population.
Our Volunteers
Zen Caregiving volunteers have been a cornerstone of our caregiving model for almost three decades. We are grateful for the generosity and deep commitment that all of our volunteers bring to their service.
Allison Shields Andrés López Andy Wolfe Audrey Meinertzerhagen Beth Gorelick Bob Stumpf Bonnie Howe Brian Rink Brooks Campbell Darren Cox Dharam Kaur Khalsa Diane Schneider Elisabeth Garst Gina Alvino |
Heidi Hartsough Hephzibah Plotkin Jan-Marie Bannon Jane Yen John Ungvarsky Judy Tang Karen Voets Kate Durham Kelly McVicker Khiem Nguyen Kristin Bowers Hal Oates Irene Morente Linda Beenau |
Linda Martin Lindsay Wheeler Loretta Lowrey Preston Evers Margaret Schroder Mary Scott Matt Trojnar Nannette Mickle Rhonda Rogers Saskia Biscoe Skip Foppert Steve McKinney Wendy Botwin Zoi Hall |