Individuals, organizations and business groups support Children's Hospital year-round through the donation of their time. We offer many fun and rewarding ways for you to help, and we hope you'll consider joining us as a Children's Hospital volunteer.
Our volunteers make a difference ...
At East Tennessee Children's Hospital, we depend on our volunteers. Each month, hundreds of area women and men unselfishly give a few hours of their time, love and attention to our young patients and their families. As a volunteer, you can make a significant contribution to the mission of Children's Hospital - providing the very best in pediatric health care to the sick and injured children of our region.
You're just the person we've been looking for ...
Children's Hospital volunteers are varied and talented - professionals, retirees, students, newcomers, stay-at-home moms, women and men of all ages. Whatever your reasons for volunteering, whatever your background or skills, we would like to talk to you about helping us at Children's Hospital.
Our qualifications are simple. Volunteers must:
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have the desire to meet new people and make new friends;
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be interested in helping others and making a difference in our world while broadening their range of skills and knowledge;
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have the desire to share their love with a child in need (previous experience working with children is helpful but not required);
- be at least 14 years of age;
- attend orientation and follow procedures;
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provide three references;
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commit to working three to four hours one day a week for at least three months.
If you would like to volunteer your time to help Children's Hospital, print out and complete the PDF Application
for Volunteer Services (for individuals over age 18).
For teens ages 14-18, print out and complete
our PDF Junior Volunteer Application.
NOTE: The 2007 Junior Volunteer program is full and we are now taking applications for the 2008 summer session.
Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view and print the PDF applications.
Due to the volume of applications we receive each week, it can take up to two weeks for Volunteer Services staff to follow up on applications. If it has been two full weeks since you submitted your application and you have not heard from Children's Hospital, please call the Volunteer Services and Resources Department at (865) 541-8136 or e-mail us.
The Children's Hospital Volunteer Services and Resources Department offers many areas where you may choose to contribute your time. Morning, afternoon and evening shifts on weekdays or weekends are available in many areas. You can choose the times that best fit your schedule.
Some of the volunteer opportunities we offer at Children's Hospital include the following:
- Child Life - Volunteers assist the child life specialists in play and play therapy.
- Critical Care Lounge - Volunteers provide assistance to the staff and families whose children are in the Haslam Family Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
- East Tennessee Children's Hospital Rehabilitation Center - The Rehabilitation Center, located on Westland Drive at Pellissippi Parkway in West Knoxville, provides family-centered rehabilitation therapy services. Volunteers at the center help with a variety of programs, such as Children's Corner, a day treatment program for medically fragile children. Volunteering at the Rehab Center is a great opportunity for students studying physical, occupational or speech therapy.
- Gift Shop - Volunteers provide assistance with pricing, restocking and working as a sales clerk. Cash register training is provided.
- Information Desk - The Information Desk volunteers provide general information about Children's Hospital to our guests.
- Outpatient Clinics - Volunteers assist in clinic activities and in the clinic play areas.
- Pediatric Medical Library - The library provides resources for our staff. Volunteers assist in reshelving books and helping to maintain the library.
- Playrooms - Volunteers help supervise activities in the playrooms.
- Surgery Lounge - Volunteers assist parents and family members as they wait for their children who are in surgery.
 Job requirements vary by volunteer position, but the key qualities you need to volunteer at Children's Hospital are a pleasant and outgoing personality and a willingness to help. In return, you will receive discounts in the hospital pharmacy, a meal allowance and complimentary parking. If you are a student, you may also benefit from practical experience in a field related to your major.
Community Volunteer Events
Each month special events take place, including fund-raisers, educational programs and other activities. The Children's Miracle Network Celebration each year and the Fantasy of Trees each November are the two largest such events, but many others also take place throughout the year (view the Calendar of Events). Volunteers help at these events in various capacities, from setting up booths to answering telephones to selling items to registering participants.
Children's Hospital depends on these events, both large and small, to help raise more than $2 million each year. The funds are used to purchase costly, state-of-the-art medical equipment to ensure Children's Hospital can continue to provide the best in pediatric health care. It is through the immeasurable help of volunteers that these events are so successful.
If you are interested in assisting Children's Hospital at one of these community volunteer events, please contact the Children's Hospital Community Relations Department at (865) 541-8165 or e-mail us.
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