Wilmington VA Medical Center

Volunteer or Give

Corporate, Business and Group Volunteer Opportunities
Are you looking for an opportunity for a group of people to volunteer? Then we are the place for you! We can tailor a volunteer project to meet the needs of your employees, your community group, or your members. Just talk to us. Share with us what you like to do, when you are available, where you want to volunteer and we can find an assignment or project for you. Ask us about our Patient Carnival every May or our Welcome Home Celebration in the fall for our returning Operation, Iraqi Freedom / Operation Enduring Freedom veterans.

Individual Volunteer Opportunities
We are very excited to have a vital, vibrant volunteer force at our medical center.  Our goal is to ensure that the volunteer experience at the Wilmington VA Medical Center is as rewarding to the volunteer as it is beneficial to the patients, families, visitors, and caregivers.

We have volunteer opportunities in our Community Based Outpatient Clinics located in Dover, Delaware; Georgetown, Delaware; Cape May, New Jersey; Northfield, New Jersey; and Vineland, New Jersey.

To learn more about becoming a volunteer or participating in a group activity, please visit or call the Wilmington VAMC Voluntary Service Office at 302-994-2511, ext. 4061.

Who Can Volunteer
We are looking for people who have the following qualifications:

• A friendly, outgoing personality
• Good communication skills
• Stamina

Who Volunteers?
Wilmington VA Medical Center volunteers come from all areas of the community and represent a variety of professions, physical abilities, age groups, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds. All have made the commitment to donate their time to the patients, families, and visitors and become a part of our community.

Adult volunteers (minimum of 18 years old) who are considered Regularly Scheduled Volunteers are asked to commit a minimum of 4 hours each week for a minimum of one year.

Youth volunteers (students 14-17 years old) volunteer in the summer and throughout the year. Special after school orientation programs for youth volunteers are held in May giving our youth volunteers the opportunity to begin their volunteer experience when school is out for the summer.

Volunteer Orientation for our Regularly Scheduled Volunteers and Youth Volunteers covers important issues on ethics and confidentiality, professional behavior and appearance, proper patient interaction, universal precaution, infection control, fire safety and information privacy and cyber security. Orientation is held the third Tuesday of each month beginning at 9:30am and ending at approximately 3:30pm. We ask you to pre-register for the orientation by calling 302-994-2511, ext. 4061.

Unit and area specific training is provided for each placement. Volunteers can be cross-trained in several areas of the medical center. Every effort is made to match the volunteer's skills, abilities, schedule, and interest with the needs of the medical center.

Volunteer Benefits
As a member of our volunteer team, you will receive:

• Orientation to Voluntary Service
• Job specific orientation
• Immediate gratification
• Improved health
• Reserved parking
• Lunch ticket (after 4 hours of service)
• Free flu shots
• Letters of Recommendation
• Eligibility for scholarships offered by service organizations and the VA
• Mentoring opportunities

Recognition Program
Volunteers are appreciated for the thousands of hours they donate in service to our veterans; service awards are presented each year to honor active volunteers for their contributions to the Wilmington VA Medical Center. Volunteers are able to donate their hours to many service/civic organizations. All volunteers are recognized in the sprin g at the Volunteer Recognition Luncheon.

Giving
Cash donations are used for the comfort and welfare of our veteran patients, including:

• personal hygiene products
• refreshments
• recreational activities
• needs of homeless veterans
• televisions 

Non-cash contributions are used to make our patients' stay more enjoyable. Items which are accepted include:

• magazines
• crossword puzzle, search-a-word, and sudoku booklets
• coffee
• telephone cards
• bird seed
• comfort items, i.e. toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, razors, shaving cream

To make a cash or non-cash contribution, please contact the Wilmington VAMC Voluntary Service at 302-994-2511, ext. 4061.