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Heart to Heart Touch , Pamela Dent & Susan Latta
Our Mission (We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization)
Heart to Heart Touch ™ trains volunteers who offer a compassionate presence and comforting touch to the dying, the medically frail, and the chronically ill. Our mission is rooted in a commitment to ease their suffering and comfort those who care for them. Since February 2018, we have trained 26 Licensed Massaged Therapists who have volunteered over 300 hours of service in hospice care. In addition, we have trained RNs, hospice volunteer coordinators, and hospice volunteers.
Our Vision
We envision communities where sacred, compassionate touch is available to all whose soul yearns for the touch of kindness and caring. Our goal is to expand beyond hospice care to serve in nursing homes, women’s shelters, hospitals, and homeless shelters.
The Founders
Pam Dent BA, LMT
In 1990, while still in massage school, Pam had the opportunity to offer massage to cancer patients at a local retreat. That defining experience set the course for her 27-year massage career which she has devoted to underserved populations - those whose lives have been affected by illness and trauma and people at end of life. She soon saw a need to train more people to serve these populations and in 2000 created classes to address this need. She co-founded Heart to Heart Touch in 2017 to connect those who want to serve humanity through touch with those who need a compassionate presence and touch during troubled times.
Susan R. Latta LMFT, FT
Susan has spent 38 years in service to others as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Bereavement Counselor. Her deep commitment to those who are grieving led her to become a Fellow in Thanatology through the Association of Death Education and Counseling. She teaches about the complexities of grief at organizations throughout the Chattanooga community and at national conferences.
Susan is the Director of Bereavement at Hospice of Chattanooga where she facilitates grief support groups and coordinates the yearly grief camps for teens and children. Susan also provides 1:1 counseling to individuals, families, and children.
Challenges
One of the biggest challenges to running a non-profit is getting Corporate Sponsors/Donors. We depend on the generosity of others to fund our “business” which is a different marketing philosophy than traditional for-profit businesses. On getting help; having heard of SCORE years before, I called to see if there was anyone who could help with starting a nonprofit. Imre was a godsend. He walked us through every step we needed to launch our nonprofit and I knew he was just a phone call away anytime I needed something after we were up and running.
