How do I handle a long gap on my résumé? - what worked for you?

I have been out of work for 8 months and worry about the gap. I have read a lot of threads here and could not find my exact situation. I have done some volunteering and a course during that time. How did you handle it on your résumé?

I listed the volunteering and course under the same dates and kept the explanation to a sentence in the cover letter.