Becoming a BIDMC Volunteer

Ages: 15 and up.
Description: This is an educational hands-on program for high school students ages 15 through 17. The five weeks program is in session Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm. Through this program teens can explore various careers while gaining experience in a hospital setting. Applications for the following summer are available only in December of each year and the program is very competitive.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 4 hours per week, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 6 months.

Ages: 15 and up.
Description: Volunteers assist with stocking rooms, creating baby bags and NICU kits, creating patient packets, and delivering items to patients who are pre- or post-delivery of their babies.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 4 hours per week, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 6 months.
Shifts Available: Mondays to Thursdays, hours flexible.

Ages: 18 and up.
Description: The aim of the Brain Builders volunteer program is to provide socially, emotionally and cognitively enriching environments for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other neurological conditions, including stroke, dementia, aneurysm, Parkinson’s and neurosurgery.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 2 - 3 hours per week, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 8 months; interest in neurology.
Shifts Available: Mornings and afternoons.

Ages: 15 and up.
Description: Volunteers visit with patients on inpatient units and offer them reading material, newspapers, puzzle books, reading glasses, cards, and other items to make their stay at BIDMC more comfortable.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 3 hours, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 4 months.
Shifts Available: Afternoons on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays.

Ages: 15 and up.
Description: Volunteers provide administrative support in the Emergency Department; maintain ongoing communication with patients and the families of patients; respond to some of the comfort needs for patients; and inform patients and families of available resources to help with their non-medical needs.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: Weekly, 4 hours, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 6 months.
Shifts Available: 7 days a week.

Description: Volunteers serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. This role is open to people who are active members of a Roman Catholic parish. Visits may involve connecting compassionately and praying with patients. Training is provided by one’s parish and the Spiritual Care Department.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: Weekly, 2 - 4 hours per week
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 6 months.
Shifts Available: Flexible.

Please contact Jaime Riggs via email or phone for more information.

Ages: 15 and up.
Description: Volunteers assist with various tasks in the food services department, including preparing trays, packaging food and utensils, rounding on patients and capturing patient experience feedback. Wonderful opportunity to learn about food services, nutritional health, hospitality, and quality improvement.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 4 hours, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 6 months.
Shifts Available: 7 days a week from 9:00 am - 8:00 pm. Priority times are 9:00 am - 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm - 5:00pm, on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Ages: 15 and up.
Description: Volunteers assist with stocking rooms, creating baby bags and NICU kits, creating patient packets, and delivering items to patients who are pre- or post-delivery of their babies.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 4 hours per week, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 6 months.
Shifts Available: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, and 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday

Ages: 15 and up.
Description: Volunteers assist staff in post-operative care unit to deliver food and drinks to patients, stock carts, make patient packets, coordinate patient transportation and escort patients to their rides, and collect patient belongings to return to patients.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 4 hours per week, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 6 months.
Shifts Available: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm, and 5:00 pm - 8:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Ages: 18 and up.
Description: Volunteers assist with inventory, logging of refrigerator temperatures, checking dates, and helping maintain clean and organized pharmacy shelving and work areas. Ideal for a student interested in a pharmacy career.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 3 - 4 hours, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 4 months once per week. Existing volunteers can do shorter commitment.
Shifts Available: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm and 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Mondays. 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Description: Volunteers are needed to sew heart-shaped comfort pillows used by breast cancer patients who are recovering from surgery. We also need volunteers to knit comfort shawls, which are given to patients to help provide comfort and compassion.

Description: Trained Reiki volunteers provide Reiki sessions to patients throughout the hospital to patients and staff members, giving them with a few quiet moments to refocus and relax.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 2 - 3 hours per week, twice per month.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 1 year.
Shifts Available: Tuesday to Friday.

At least 6 months of Reiki practice experience preferred. Please contact Joyce Delgardo via email or phone for more information.

Ages: 18 and up.
Description: Volunteers will participate in a role play which will simulate a family meeting with intern who is learning communication skills for critical care. Volunteers may be asked to provide feedback about how the conversation felt, from the perspective of a family member of an acutely ill patients.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 3 Wednesdays per month
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 8 months.
Shifts Available: 8:00 am - 9:00 am, Wednesdays.

Ages: 21 and up or college graduate.
Description: Vigil Volunteers provide a supportive presence to patients nearing the end of life. The volunteer provides verbal or non-verbal support, which may include playing quiet music, reading, or just sitting with the patient.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 2 - 3 hours, once per week between 3:30 pm - 8:00 pm, and 1 hour of note-writing following shift.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 8 months.
Shifts Available: Flexible.