Mercer Health

Volunteer Information

The aim and purpose of the Mercer Health Volunteer Association is to assist in the advancement of the interest of Mercer Health and to promote good will, understanding, and support of the hospital.

Daily in-hospital services are the main function of the group.

Volunteer Information

The Mercer Health Volunteer Association is proud to serve the needs of the patients, families, and staff of the hospital. Approximately 300 adults and teenagers serve the Association 365 days a year.

Click on a volunteer service below to read about their duties, qualifications, and scheduling:

Patient Services
Gift Shop Sales Associate
Fundraising
Surgical Host
Assistant Gift Shop Manager
Eucharistic Ministers
Cradling Arms
VolunTEEN & Shadowing
General Office Assistants
Merchandise Volunteers
Hospital Tour Guides
Health Fair & Seminar Assistants
Ruth Lyons Toy Distribution
Sewing Volunteers
Rehabilitation Service Volunteers
Chaplains
How To Apply

Patient Services

Duties:
welcome incoming patients, assist them with registration
escort new patients to their rooms
escort patient being dismissed to their car
welcome guests and guide them to patient rooms, meetings, or seminars
transport lab work, paperwork, and information between hospital departments
deliver newspaper gifts and cards to patients
contact clergy regarding patient admissions
assist various departments with light office work

Qualifications:
open to adults or teenagers
must enjoy meeting people and dealing with people in a variety of situations
ability to walk easily and to move about quickly
able to push a patient in a wheelchair

Scheduling:
set schedules
Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. -12 p.m., 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Gift Shop Sales Associate

Duties:
assist Gift Shop manager and assistant manager with daily duties and functions
serving patients, hospital staff, and guests

Qualifications:
open to adults or teenagers
ability to work with the public interest and ability to sell merchandise
fill in, maintain, and promote products
ability to operate or learn how to operate a cash register
ability to count and handle money
be a promoter for the Gift Shop
ability to move and walk with ease

Scheduling:
set schedules: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 11 a.m., 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Fund Raising

Duties:
assist with various fundraising activities and projects

Qualifications:
open to adults or teenagers
ability to work with the public and to promote an idea or product
ability to work with money
assist with publicity, scheduling, setup, and follow-up

Schedules:
flexible; as needed when events are scheduled

Surgical Host

Duties:
act as host and mediator between patient's family and surgical staff while patient is undergoing surgery
keep track of patient and family members before, during, and after surgery

Qualifications:
open to adults or teenagers
ability to work well with people in a variety of situations
ability to accurately track information and people
must be able to move about and walk short distances

Schedule:
set schedules; Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. or 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Assistant Gift Shop Manager

Duties:
aid the Hospitality Shop Manager with operations of the shop
maintain shop on a "daily" basis with supplies, stock, and general "fix-ups"
serve the staff, patients, and guests of the hospital

Qualifications:
ability to work with fellow volunteers, guiding them in daily shop duties
willingness to shop at marts and attend seminars
ability to decorate, visualize trends and styles

Schedules:
flexible; on call as needed

Eucharistic Ministers

Duties:
daily distribution of Holy Eucharist to patients and family members who are able and wish to receive

Qualifications:
adults only
friendly, willing to visit with the sick
commissioned by the Catholic Church as a Eucharistic Minister and recommended by the Pastor of Holy Trinity Church

Schedules:
monthly rotation, usually one turn per month approximately 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
distribution is every day of the year

Cradling Arms

Duties:
to assist pediatric staff with general child care in the absence of the parents

Qualifications:
adults or teenagers
must be comfortable with children and infants
ability to work with staff and families

VolunTEEN & Shadowing

Duties:
purpose allows high school students the opportunity to explore a possible career while assisting patients and staff

Qualifications:
high school student must have recommendation from high school guidance counselor
must have a B average or better
must be comfortable working with the public
willing to observe and learn as opposed to hands-on experience
must be dependable and responsible
need parental approval

Schedules:
set schedules after school and on weekends
usually one 3 or 4 hour shift per week

General Office Assistant

Duties:
assist managers and departments with light office work, filing, copying, etc.

Qualifications:
willing to work in various departments
ability to perform simple office tasks accurately

Schedules:
flexible; as needed and as scheduled

Merchandise Volunteers

Duties:
assist in buying, pricing, and displaying new merchandise in Gift Shop

Qualifications:
ability to decorate, see trends and styles
decorate and display merchandise
ability to move about and walk with ease
willingness to shop at marts and shows, and to attend seminars
ability to apply value to merchandise through pricing, sales, and inventories

Schedules:
flexible, as needed

Hospital Tour Guides

Duties:
assist staff with Children's Play Hospital by guiding children through event
providing a tour for new volunteers (adults and teenagers) throughout the hospital and areas where they will be of service
be an ambassador for the hospital

Qualifications:
open to adults or teenagers
must enjoy talking to groups of people
able to express various ideas and concepts
must be familiar with the hospital and its services
able to walk and move about easily

Schedules:
flexible; on call as needed

Health Fair & Seminar Assistants

Duties:
assist staff with setup, registration, or production of various events

Qualifications:
open to adults or teenagers
ability to work with the public
able to keep accurate accounts or records
ability to walk and move about with ease

Schedules:
flexible; as needed when events are scheduled

Ruth Lyons Toy Distribution

Duties:
distribute toys daily to all new pediatric patients

Qualifications:
must enjoy children and be at ease working with families
follow guidelines set by Ruth Lyons Program
ability to keep accurate records of patients and gifts received
be familiar with age specific competencies
responsible for ordering and maintaining supply of toys

Schedules:
daily; schedule agrees with staff

Sewing Volunteers

Duties:
aid linen department in maintaining the linen supply
sewing new items, mending, etc.

Qualifications:
must be an adult
knowledge of sewing techniques
ability to operate sewing machine

Schedules:
Tuesday afternoons

Rehabilitation Service Volunteers

Duties:
assist the staff with various treatments
help maintain department, make beds, fold towels
light office work

Qualifications:
usually a teen or young adult
interested in a possible career
must be willing to learn and be satisfied with observation time versus hands on experience
must work easily with people while being friendly and polite
must be able to walk and move about with ease

Schedules:
flexible; set up by department and volunteer

Chaplains

Duties:
to serve the spiritual needs of patients, families, and staff as needed
being open to all faiths and acting as a nondenominational volunteer chaplain

Qualifications:
ordained clergy or in seminary training
must be available 24 hours during scheduled week
need to be open to all faiths and not wishing to "recruit"
should have some basic "hospital ministry training"

Schedule:
flexible; one week at a time; random visits are encouraged but not required;
will be on call 24 hours during scheduled week

How do I join or learn more about becoming a volunteer?

You are always welcome to call the Volunteer Office at 678-5132 and ask for Jane Stammen, the Director of Volunteer Services.