Volunteer Opportunities

MedWest welcomes anyone in our community who wishes to volunteer their time and skills to support our mission and goals.

Connecting through volunteering is a powerful tool for bringing people together and solving many of the problems that face our communities. Opportunities are available throughout MedWest Health System.

How do I become a volunteer?

Applicants are asked to complete a volunteer application, interview and orientation before accepting an assignment.

What will I be doing as a volunteer?

Applicants' interests and schedules are matched with the needs of the various departmental requests for help. We accept applications for MedWest-Harris and MedWest-Swain as well as Hospice, and the thrifit shops in Jackson and Swain counties.

MedWest-Harris: Volunteers are assigned to various departments based on requested needs. Duties may include assisting such departments at Ambulatory Surgery, Emergency, Social Services and the Medication Assistance Program.

MedWest-Swain: Volunteers work as a team at the Volunteer Station to support requests from the staff. They also assist patients coming to the hospital for appointments and procedures.

Hospice: Volunteers are needed for office work, the Lifeline Program, and to supportpatients and family members in the hospice program.

At the MedWest-Harris Auxiliary Thrift Shop, volunteers accept assignments as sorters, baggers, cashiers and handle merchandising in various departments. We offer flexible schedules and lots of fun. All revenue benefits MedWest-Harris projects and services. Business hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers work flexible schedules Monday through Saturday.

At the MedWest-Swain Auxiliary Thrift Shop, volunteers sort, price and display donations from the community. Volunteers are assigned shifts as cashiers on the days the thrift shop is open to the public which is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Clerical Support: A volunteer commits to one or more mornings a week to offer assistance with copying, collating, filing and other clerical tasks. The volunteer is assigned to a specific department.

The Medication Assistance Program provides volunteers to work with designated staff in assisting patients with the acquisition of prescribed medications free of charge directly from drug companies. Volunteers will help organize and fill out all necessary paperwork to process requests from patients who are unable to pay for needed medications prescribed by their physician. The volunteers will also follow-up with patients to learn outcomes concerning the medications the patients receive.

The Comfort Quilts Program welcomes quilters who wish to help children by crafting one quilt per month to be given to a young patient who has come to the hospital for a procedure, one who has had multiple hospitalizations due to chronic illness such as asthma, or has a life limiting disease. Special quilts are also given to a mother whose baby could not be carried to term. Quilting is done at home.

The Baby Cap Program provides each newborn with a knitted cap before leaving the hospital. Volunteers knit the baby caps at home.

If you would like more information about any of these programs or would like to volunteer, please contact Carol Douglas at 828-586-7405.