Coronavirus Update:What patients and families need to know
Update: Effective March 16, we have temporarily suspended all volunteer opportunities until further notice.
Volunteer
It takes only a small amount of time to make a big difference in a child's life. Children’s National volunteers serve in a variety of ways to assist patients and family members during their hospital visit. Whether they’re spending time playing at a patient’s bedside, delivering flowers, sorting donations, filing paperwork or helping people find their way around the hospital, our volunteers play a critical role in setting the standards of excellence in a health care setting.
Our volunteer program also manages Dr. Bear’s Closet, which is full of donated toys, games, books and personal care items for children and their families. Donating to Dr. Bear’s Closet is a great way to give back and make a lasting impact on a child’s visit to the hospital. Visit the Dr. Bear’s Closet page to view our current Wish List and guidelines for making a donation to Children’s National today!
There’s no better feeling than knowing that you have helped ease what can be a trying time for patients and their families. Please take a look at our opportunities, along with the program-specific commitments, to see what might be the best fit for you!
Patient Care Volunteers, ages 18+, are asked to make at least a one-year, 100-hour commitment. Applications are available twice a year.
Dr. Bear’s Ambassadors, ages 15+, are asked to make at least a six-month, 50-hour commitment.
Volunteer Greeters help welcome families, patients and visitors to our hospital with friendly smiles and fun stickers, and assist with wayfinding. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
The Summer High School Program is an 8-week program, with a minimum commitment of 75 hours. Volunteers work three to five times during the week, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Summer Volunteers are specially trained to provide world-class customer service to patients, families and visitors.
We're seeking dedicated volunteers and their canine companions to provide our patients with emotional support, and to make their hospital stay feel more like home. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Our Child Life Volunteer program allows volunteers to report directly to a certified Child Life Specialist. Volunteers must be ages 18+ and are asked to make a 100-hour commitment. Learn more about how to apply.
Greeting, coffee cart rounding and special event assistance are just a few options when volunteering as a group at Children’s National.
Donations are an important of what we do in Volunteer Services. You can help our patients by donating toys, clothing and books to make their hospital stay feel a little more like home. You can also provide monetary donations to help out.
We accept books, toys, clothing, gift cards and monetary donations for our Dr. Bear’s Closet. Donate today!