By volunteering at a VA health care facility, you'll provide critical support to our nation's heroes.
To become a volunteer, fill out an application. Print it, sign it, and mail it to the campus where you'd like to volunteer: University Drive or H.J. Heinz III campus. A volunteer specialist will contact you to schedule an interview.
Benefits of volunteering
In addition to supporting Veterans in your area, you'll enjoy the following benefits as a VA volunteer:
- Free Canteen meals during shifts of four or more hours
- Free parking at your volunteer facility
- Educational opportunities, such as CPR training
- Annual tuberculosis test
- Free annual flu shots
- Job skills development
- Career exploration opportunities
Where we need help
Although we're excited to work with all volunteers, we're always in need of more shopping trip escorts and ambassadors (information desk volunteers).
Volunteer duties
Whatever your interests, VA has volunteer opportunities for you. Our volunteer duties fall into three categories: Recreational (focused on general support services), Clinical (focused on patient care), and Operational (focused on logistical or administrative tasks).
Recreational
- Library - Assist the librarian, help patients use special visual aid equipment, deliver books to patient rooms, and stock book racks.
- Escort - Escort patients to various clinics for physical therapy or areas such as the chapel, barber shop, recreation, ceramics, and medical clinics.
- Recreation - Assist with arts and crafts projects, play bedside games, assist on field trips, show bedside movies, and help therapists with bowling, card games, popcorn parties, and other activities.
- Ceramics - Assist in clinics by pouring and cleaning molds and helping patients paint.
- Food and nutrition - Help patients with completing or selecting menus and during meals (opening containers, cutting food into bite-sized portions, feeding patients).
- Chaplain - Escort patients to the chapel for religious services.
- Day treatment and adult day care - Assist with patient escort, arts and crafts, exercise programs, and other recreational patient activities.
- Coffee program - Prepare and serve coffee and refreshments.
- Alzheimer's program - Assist with exercise and arts and crafts programs.
Clinical
- Nursing - Assist the nursing staff with patient care.
- Pharmacy - Assist the pharmacist and deliver supplies to the patient care units.
- Speech and audiology - Motivate and encourage patients with their assignments.
- Radiology - Escort patients and file x-rays.
- Ambassador volunteers - Greet outpatients, guests, visitors and patients' families, answer phones and transfer calls. Ambassador volunteers are stationed at the main information desk.
- Radiation therapy - Run errands and escort patients.
- Surgical waiting room - Greet families, serve coffee, meet with medical staff, and provide information to families.
Operational
- Office assistant - Type, file, answer phones, keep records, and do data entry.
- DAV transportation - Drive patients from their homes to VA medical centers.
- Medical clinics - Visit with Veteran patients and run errands.
- Blood bank - Alphabetize 3x5 cards and help with drinks and snacks.
Contact us
If you have questions about donating or volunteering, please contact the VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement program coordinator.
David Difuccia
VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement Program Coordinator
Phone: 412-822-3096
In person:
H.J. Heinz III Campus
Room 1A125
University Drive Campus
Room AE122