WATERVILLE -- Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area has launched its annual appeal, seeking to raise $40,000 this year.

The organization, located at 304 Main St., provides free nonmedical support to individuals and families faced with life-threatening illnesses and end-of-life issues.

The independent, all-volunteer agency is not to be confused with HealthReach Hospice and Volunteers of Kennebec County, which has a similar name and provides medical services reimbursed by Medicare, as well as other services.

"They (HealthReach Hospice) cover 26 communities in Southern Kennebec County," Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area's executive director, Dale Marie Clark, said Monday "We serve 27 communities in Northern Kennebec and some communities in Waldo, Penobscot and Somerset counties."

"Our hands are not tied by the guidelines of insurance or Medicare; Medicare says that say a person is only accepted as a hospice patient if he has six months or less to live," Clark said.

The organization, in existence 27 years, contracts with HealthReach to serve some patients who receive medical care. Some services Hospice Volunteers provides: Companionship, respite for caregivers, compassionate listening, transportation, errand-running, reading aloud and light meal preparation. Volunteers are on-call to sit vigil for the last 24 to 48 hours of life to support with families in private homes, hospitals or nursing homes. Free massage and related therapies are provided for clients and caregivers.

At the Main Street center, support groups are offered and led by experienced volunteers. They include those for adults; grieving parents; people who have lost infants or a baby during pregnancy; teens; men; and widows/widowers.

The appeal theme is "Unique Services from the Heart" because of what Hospice offers, according to Clark.

"Our services are unique -- you don't get them anywhere else in this area. We provide something the medical hospices don't and can't. A lot of it is because of relationships we have in the community. People walk in off the street and we stop what we're doing and we help."

Camp Ray of Hope is offered as a weekend retreat for grieving families and individuals statewide. Hospice also does community outreach and education in schools and has a lending library.

It has an annual budget of $213,000. Sixty percent of that comes from its annual appeal, churches, business donations, community events and individuals. Forty percent comes from grants and contractual agreements with Medicare hospices and from United Way of Mid-Maine donations.

Some independent, volunteer hospices eventually merge with medical hospices; the Waterville organization has no plans for that.

"We're very, very committed to staying independent," Clark said. "We have a very, very strong organization -- a very healthy organization."

An annual Volunteer and Friends Celebration will be held 7-9 p.m. April 27 at Donald V. Carter Hall at Kennebec Valley Community College. Those who support the organization or are interested in volunteering are invited to come and meet volunteers and learn about Hospice.