Volunteer Opportunities

Shriners Hospital for Children—Cincinnati offers many opportunities for volunteers. Volunteers make a difference in our hospital. Whether they are passing out snacks each night or welcoming our families at the information desk, all volunteers support the needs of our patients, families and staff.

Holiday Volunteer Program

As you know, hospitals across the country are taking extra precautions this flu season. This means we are unable to host volunteer groups at the hospital. However, we have two special opportunities this holiday season for which we need many volunteers.

The Cincinnati Houses of Hope Gingerbread House Contest and Display and The Christmas Ranch offer groups a chance to share their holiday spirit and help our hospital at the same time! The Houses of Hope runs December 4-6, at the Cincinnati Shrine Center on Wm. Howard Taft in Clifton. The Christmas Ranch is in Morrow, Ohio, and runs every day from Friday, November 27 to Saturday, January 2. Volunteer times and duties vary depending on the event. For more information, contact Louise Hoelker at lhoelker@shrinenet.org or (513) 872-6059.

Become A Volunteer

• Review the list of jobs that are available (see below).
• If there is a job that interests you, please fill out a volunteer application and return it to the hospital. Volunteers opportunities change frequently and we can not always guarantee placement in a department of your interest.
• All new volunteers must undergo a drug screening test and a background check before they can be placed in a volunteer position.

Our need for volunteers is greatest during normal business hours, Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. A very limited number of opportunities are available after 5 p.m. on weekdays or on the weekends. Because of the significant training and orientation required of volunteers, we need loyal volunteers who can commit to staying with us for at least six months, working one day a week for a few hours each visit.

Please note that we do not have positions for volunteers to read to our patients. Volunteer positions which work directly with patients are funneled through our child life department. If there are openings, they will be listed below.

We do not have in hospital volunteer opportunities for groups, such as youth groups or scouts groups. We do have service project ideas listed in our brochure.

Download the volunteer application (PDF)

Current Volunteer Positions (November 2009)

Hospital Van Driver & Security Assistant — Volunteers needed to work from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. one day a week; must be able to drive hospital van and carry 25 lbs. Volunteer would pick up hospital mail from post office; assist with sorting, and help security officers on morning activities, such as opening doors, driving families to and from hospital. Must be able to pass health and drug screening and van driver course completion (all provided by hospital).

For more information about volunteer opportunities at the hospital, contact Louise Hoelker.
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