Get Involved

There are many ways to help the Spiritual Care Office at Roswell Park.

Volunteer

The Department of Spiritual Care has a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals depending upon training and interest. Currently 65 volunteers are active in the department. Spiritual Care Visitors are men and women who have completed a comprehensive training program to the sick, which included clinical experience at Roswell Park or another health care facility. Ministers of Holy Communion are recommended by his her pastor to bring communion to patients of the Catholic and Protestant faith traditions.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, contact the Department of Spiritual Care at 716-845-8051 or 716-845-8852 for information.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Many church organizations and individuals have begun a Knitting Ministry which is a world-wide ecumenical movement of women's groups, gathering to pray and knit for those in need and those celebrating joys. Prayer shawls donated to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center are given to our patients as a sign of support and as a gift of comfort and peace. Each shawl is labeled with prayer card with the name of the knitter. Shawls are given out to in-patients and out-patients through the Spiritual Care staff.

Prayer shawls are always needed. If you have a knitting group in your community or if you like to knit, please call 716-845-8051 or 716-845-8852.

Holiday Gift Giving Program

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, in collaboration with the Community Cancer Partnership, coordinates and annual holiday gift giving program. This program includes the collection of non-perishable foods as well as holiday gifts for patients and their families who have been identified as needy by our Social Work Department. For more information, please contact 716-845-8051 or 716-845-8852.

Read to Me Program

The Spiritual Care Department is in need of donations of brand new children's story books (ages toddler to 10 years old). These story books will be distributed to our patients with children or grandchildren at home and we will record the patient reading the story.  The story book and the CD will be sent home to the child by family members or friends. For more information about this program, call the Spiritual Care office at 716-845-8051.