Home Volunteer Services

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Review all the volunteer opportunities below.
  • When you complete your application, you will have the opportunity to pick your top 3 choices from the list below:
    • Gift Shop
    • Navigator
    • Palliative Care Volunteer
    • Pediatric Food Pantry
    • Performing Art Volunteer
    • Resource Center 
    • Visiting Adult Inpatients
    • Waiting Room Volunteer
    • Working with Children

Commitment & Available Shifts:

  • Must commit to 2 hours per week for a minimum of 30 hours during fall 2024.
  • Monday to Fridays
    • 9:00 am to 11:00 am
    • 11:00 to 1:00 pm
    • 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
    • 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
  • Saturdays and Sundays 
    • 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
    • 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
    • 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
    • 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
       

Volunteers will serve as a very important point person for patients and visitors, personally guiding and directing patients to appointments, providing information, directions and way finding to patients and visitors, helping patients and visitors locate resources or directing them to the appropriate source if they have a problem or question.  Volunteers will also deliver flowers and gifts to the front desk of each unit, not to the patient’s rooms.  Volunteers are expected to offer a very high level of customer service, serving as an extension of the professional team.  

Commitment & Available Shifts:

  • Must commit to 2 hours per week for a minimum of 30 hours during fall 2024.
  • Monday to Friday
    • 7:30 am to 9:30 am
    • 9:30 am to 11:30 am
    • 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
    • 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
    • 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
    • 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
  • Saturdays and Sundays 
    • 8:00 am to 10:00 am
    • 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
    • 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
    • 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
    • 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
    • 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Volunteers will round on patients receiving palliative care services to provide compassionate visitation which may include reading, writing letters, playing games, assisting with phone calls, friendly conversation or working on a legacy project. Volunteers will also monitor and restock the unit-based legacy boxes.

Commitment & Available Shifts:

  • Must commit to 2 hours per week for a minimum of 30 hours during fall 2024.
  • Monday to Saturday
    • 9:00 am to 11:00 am
    • 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
    • 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
    • 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
       

The pediatric food pantry provides food baskets to our patients and families that experiencing any form of food insecurity. Volunteers will provide intake forms to patient families and return completed forms to social worker or provider where they will determine if the family qualifies for a food pantry distribution.  If they qualify, volunteer will provide the family with a bag of groceries at the end of their clinic visit.  Volunteers will also inventory, package, and transport 4-8 ten pound bags of groceries by rolling cart.

Commitment & Available Shifts:

  • Must commit to 2-3 hours per week for a minimum of 30 hours during fall 2024.
  • Wednesday
    • 9:00 am to 11:00 am
    • 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
    • 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
       

Volunteers will be playing instrumental music for adults and child patient populations, their loved ones and staff in public spaces (waiting areas, concourse areas and lobbies) to ease the stress of a hospital visit or stay.   No vocal music is featured for the public space performances. Volunteers will promote the recognition of the importance of the arts-specifically music-in lowering blood pressure and creating a positive distraction.  Volunteers must have excellent Live Music Performing skills and be able to perform music for a 2 hour shift (you do not need 2 hours of solo music, the shifts are broken into two 50-minute sets that can be repeated)

Commitment & Available Shifts:

  • Must commit to 2 hours per week for a minimum of 30 hours during fall 2024. 
  • Monday to Friday 
    • 2-hour shift between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm

Volunteers will aid patients, families, and staff in finding information and referral services related to cancer and our supportive services. In addition, the volunteer will welcome patients and families to a quiet place to wait while at the Duke Cancer Institute and listen to patients’ and families’ concerns.

Commitment & Available Shifts:

  • Must commit to 4 hours per week for a minimum of 30 hours during fall 2024.
  • Tuesday, Thursdays, and Fridays
    • 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Visiting Adult Inpatients

The opportunities listed in this category involve visiting our adult inpatients.  If you choose this assignment, you will be placed in one of the volunteers programs listed.  You will not have the ability to choose a specific program.  Volunteer Services will make the decision based on our needs and your availability.  

Volunteers will provide opportunities for socialization to patients and caregivers in an outpatient setting. Volunteers will be motivators to encourage these participants to engage in activities that structure free time and help to build their social support networks. This may include providing arts and crafts resources, conducting a Living History, and/or circulating hospitality cart items.  

Commitment & Available Shifts:

  • Must commit to 4 hours per week for a minimum of 30 hours during fall 2024.
  • Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 
    • 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Volunteers provide support services, of a non-clinical nature, to nursing unit staff to enhance patient care. Volunteers assist with answering call lights, rounding on patients seeing if they had any questions, needs or want a companion to talk to, reviewing welcome packet/patient guide including how to use the phone/TV/call light, etc., reading, writing letters, playing games and assisting with phone calls.  

Commitment & Available Shifts:

  • Must commit to 3 hours per week for a minimum of 30 hours during the fall 2024.
  • Sunday to Saturday (7 days a week)
    • 6:30 am to 8:30 am
    • 8:30 am to 10:30 am
    • 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
    • 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
    • 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm
    • 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
    • 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
    • 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Volunteers assemble and deliver activity kits to hospital inpatients on request.  Volunteers will also round on patients to offer activity kit and books./magazines. 

Commitment & Available Shifts:

  • Must commit to 2 hours per week for a minimum of 30 hours during fall 2024.
  • Monday to Friday
    • 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
    • 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
    • 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm 
    • 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Waiting Room Volunteers (Outpatient)

The opportunities listed in this category involve volunteering in various waiting rooms.  If you choose this assignment, you will be placed in one of the volunteers programs listed.  You will not have the ability to choose a specific program. Volunteer Services will make the decision based on our needs and your availability.  

Volunteer offers hospitality, support, and a caring presence to patients and families visiting the Duke Cancer Center. Their primary role is to spend time talking to patients and families, providing a comforting presence. They can listen to patients’ and families’ concerns, offer refreshments, puzzles, cards, and educate families about other DCPSP services.                         

Commitment & Available Shifts:

  • Must commit to 4 hours per week for a minimum of 30 hours during fall 2024.
  • Monday 
    • 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
  • Tuesday 
    • 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
    • 12:00 to 4:00 pm
  • Wednesday
    • 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
    • 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
  • Thursday
    • 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
    • 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
  • Fridays
    • 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Volunteers interact with patients and staff by assisting with greeting patients upon arrival to the clinic, providing support to patients/visitors while in the waiting area, provide directions to patient when looking for other appointments and assisting patients with appointment itineraries.  Volunteers are a liaison to elevate concerns of patients/visitors to clinical staff. Volunteers may also assist with Duke My Chart registration.  

Commitment & Available Shifts:

  • Must commit to 3 hours per week for a minimum of 30 hours during fall 2024.
  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
    • 8:00 am to 11:00 am
    • 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
  • Friday
    • 8:00 am to 11:00 am

Volunteers will spend their time in the waiting room speaking with patients/visitors and checking in to see if they have questions or need anything.  They will work very closely with the staff at the patient registration desk, taking directions from them and assisting them in any way possible.  Volunteers will also escort visitors into the unit where patients are either waiting for surgery or recovering from surgery.  Way finding is also important in this role; being able to follow a map and escort visitors to their destination.

Commitment & Available Shifts:

  • Must commit to 2-3 hours per week for a minimum of 30 hours during fall 2024.
  • Monday to Friday (Adult Patients)
    • 5:30 am to 8:30 am
    • 8:30 am to 11:30 am
    • 11:30 am to 2:30 pm
    • 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm
    • 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
  • Monday to Friday (Pediatrics Patients)
    • 6:00 am to 8:00 am
    • 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Working with Children

The opportunities listed in this category involve working pediatric patients.  If you choose this assignment, you will be placed in one of the volunteers programs listed.  You will not have the ability to choose a specific program.  Volunteer Services will make the decision based on our needs and your availability.  

Volunteers in this program play with children to provide distraction in Lenox Baker Children’s Hospital and Valvano Day Hospital. Volunteers may also assist children with crafts, reading, and playing games in the waiting areas. Volunteers may take patients back for appointments and assist with patient flow in the busy waiting areas by informing patients and families of wait times.

Commitment & Available Shifts:

  • Must commit to 2 hours per week for a minimum of 30 hours during fall 2024.
  • Monday and Tuesday
    • 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
    • 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
    • 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
  • Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
    • 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
    • 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Volunteer provides positive educational art activities for pediatric patients, siblings, and parents waiting for or receiving treatment.  Provide an opportunity for using art for creative expression and socialization and as a coping mechanism, to assist with reducing stress, anxiety and depression and to assist with normalizing the hospital experience, including the outpatient experience.  

Commitment & Available Shifts:

  • Must commit to 3 hours per week for a minimum of 30 hours during fall 2024.
  • Monday to Friday 
    • 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
    • 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm

The Hospital School provides academic services to outpatient and inpatient students in grades Pre-K to 12. Volunteers will help organize and implement art or STEAM activities for our pediatric patients, siblings, and parents.  This includes packing activity kits and working with children to do the activity.   

  • Commitment & Available Shifts:
  • MUST be able to attend a MANDATORY training on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 from 10 am to 12 pm. 
  • Must commit to 2 hours per week for a minimum of 30 hours during fall 2024.
  • Monday 
    • 9:00 am to 11:00 am
  • Tuesday
    • 9:00 am to 11:00 am
    • 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
  • Thursday
    • 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Step 2:  Complete Volunteer Application