In addition to supporting Veterans in your area, you'll enjoy the following benefits as a VA volunteer: 

• Free Canteen meals during shifts of 4 or more hours
• Free parking at your volunteer facility 
• Education opportunities, such as CPR training
• Free annual tuberculosis test
• Free annual flu shot
• Job skills development
• Job search opportunities

Whatever your interests, the Butler VA has volunteer opportunities for you. 

Below are some ways you can help. Other assignments not listed here might be available as well. If you’re interested in volunteering or have special skills to offer, please contact us so we can discuss how you can best help our patients. We also have special short-term projects from time to time.  All volunteers must complete a background check. 

While some volunteer opportunities require specific times, most are flexible to fit your schedule. 

Patient care 

• Adult day health care: Help with patient escort, arts and crafts, exercise programs, and other recreational patient activities.
• Escort: Escort patients to medical clinics, chapel, barber shop, recreation, and programs.
• Food and nutrition: Help patients complete or select menus. Open containers, cut food into bite-size portions.
• Front desk: Greet outpatients, guests, visitors, and patients' families, answer phones, and transfer calls at the information desk.
• Library: Help the librarian, help patients use special visual aid equipment, deliver books to patient rooms, and stock book racks.
• Medical clinics: Greet and visit patients, answer phones, transfer calls as needed
• Nursing: Assist with recreation
• Recreation: Help with arts and crafts projects, play bedside games, show bedside movies, and help therapists with activities.
• Speech and audiology (hearing): Motivate and encourage patients with their assignments.

Administrative

• Blood bank: Help with snacks
• Birthday calls: Call Veterans on their birthday to wish them a 'happy birthday' and ask if they need help with anything from the VA
• DAV transportation: Drive patients from their homes to VA medical centers
• Donations: Clean, organize, and put away all donations received. Organize and maintain donation closet
• Office assistance: Type, file, answer phones, keep records, enter data, and call patients to remind them about appointments
• Patient Assistance: Escort patients to/from appointments, including assistance with wheelchairs

Where we need extra help 

We always need more people to drive patients to their appointments at our medical center and clinics. To fill this important role, you must have a current driver’s license and car insurance, receive mandatory training, and pass a physical exam. 

Contact us

If you have questions about donating or volunteering, please contact the Voluntary Services Office

Paula McCarl
Acting Chief of Voluntary Services
Paula.McCarl@va.gov

Phone:  878-271-6492

Andy Gryskewicz
Voluntary Services Specialist
Andrew.Gryskewicz@va.gov 

Phone:  878-271-6957

In person:

Voluntary Service Office 
2VL001
353 North Duffy Road
Butler, PA 16001

If you’re a student who’s 14 to 17 years old, volunteer for us this summer. You can learn more about health careers, sharpen your job skills, meet fantastic people—and have fun.

Volunteer to make a difference

As a youth volunteer, you’ll help in many ways:

• Direct and escort patients within VA facilities 
• Help in clinics
• Help with recreation programs

Perks

You’ll qualify for these great benefits:

• Summer youth certificate for 80 hours (or more) of service
• Free VA summer youth volunteer polo shirt
• Free lunch for 4 or more hours of service
• Free parking
• Invitation to join special programs throughout the summer

How to join us 

If you're a student who wants to participate in our summer youth program, or you know students who might be interested, contact Andy Pepe, Chief of Voluntary Services.

Phone: 878-271-6957 

Donating is just a click away now that VA medical centers accepts donations online. You just need a major credit card, debit card, checking account, or savings account. 
Make a donation online 

If you'd like to donate to the Butler VA, please send a check (payable to "Butler VA Health Care System") to the following address:

Butler VA Health Care System
Voluntary Services Program
353 North Duffy Road
Butler, PA 16001

Some people prefer to give money, while others prefer to donate items needed by our Veterans. We appreciate all forms of generosity.

We accept the following items: 

Personal care

• Body-care products: lotion, soap, deodorant, and shaving cream or gel
• Dental supplies: toothbrushes, toothpaste, toothbrush holders, nonalcoholic mouthwash, and denture adhesive
• Hairbrushes and combs
• Reading glasses
• Thermometers
• Tissues
• Disposable brand-name twin razors
• Earplugs

Clothing

• Gloves (sizes L and XL)
• Hats (winter hats and baseball caps)
• Hooded sweatshirts (sizes L, XL, and XXL)
• Jeans and pants (waist size 32 and larger)
• Long-sleeve shirts (men's sizes L to 5XL)
• Shower shoes
• Sneakers and shoes (men's size 7 1/2 and larger; Velcro or slip-on)
• Socks
• Sweatpants (with elastic waistbands)
• Sweatshirts
• T-shirts (men's sizes L to 5XL) 
• Underwear (sizes L, XL, and XXL)
• Winter coats (sizes L, XL, and XXL)

Assorted items

• Books
• Chess and checkers sets
• Disposable cups, napkins, plates, forks, and spoons
• Fleece blankets (twin size)
• Gift cards for gas and groceries
• Magazines, 6 months or newer
• Markers for art projects
• Puzzle books, unused
• Reading glasses (1.25 and higher)
• Wheelchair cup holders