Hours: Monday through Friday – 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ambulatory Surgery Center
Volunteers maintain a comfortable, warm environment for family members and friends while patients are in surgery. Volunteers visit with family members in the waiting area and communicate information between patients’ family members, nurses/physicians regarding the status of the patient. Strong customer service, communication skills, complete awareness of confidentiality and compassion are required to volunteer.
Blue Coat Concierge
Volunteers greet patients/families and visitors to Roswell Park. This individual should create a welcoming environment and provide superior patient services. Providing guidance, support and direction. Tasks may include escorting patients to their destination or promoting resources available within the hospital.
Book cart
Volunteers visit with patients on hospital floors and clinical areas to provide reading material. Books and magazines dated within the last three months are donated. Volunteers sort them, place a sticker over the address and distribute them to all waiting areas and remove old magazines — the cart is then ready for patients. Good communication skills are needed and the ability to walk extensively.
Cancer Coach
The Cancer Coach Program connects patients with cancer survivors who know firsthand how a diagnosis changes your life. Talking with someone who has lived with cancer can reduce anxiety and isolation. Cancer Coaches are trained volunteers who provide comfort and practical information for patients; however, they don’t provide medical advice. For more information on the program, call Martha Hickey at 716-845-8659, Option 1.
The 11 Day Power Place Cancer Resource Center & Elevate Salon
Volunteers support The 11 Day Power Play Cancer Resource Center and Elevate Salon. This volunteer will interact with newly diagnosed patients and connect them to the programs and services offered to them by Roswell Park and its community partners. Volunteers will also assist patients with wig/head coverings and checking in/out books, DVDs or electronic equipment.
Coffee cart
Volunteers have an opportunity to visit with patients and families while making their wait time in the clinical areas easier. With a partner, the volunteer stocks the necessary essentials on the cart and travels to and from clinics and waiting areas to offer beverages and snacks to patients and visitors. When their shift is completed, the volunteer returns the cart to the kitchen and readies the essentials for the next volunteer. Volunteers must be self-motivated, have a congenial personality, good communication skills, have patience and the ability to walk and travel with the cart.
Currently suspended due to Covid restrictions.
Craft cart
Volunteers prepare the craft cart with arts and crafts supplies provided by the Patient Advocacy Department. The crafts provide patients/family members inside and outside the clinical waiting areas of the hospital some pleasant diversions to pass the time. This interaction allows for a friendly visit to lend support and hospitality to our population. After each shift, the assigned volunteer is responsible for re-stocking the cart for the next shift. A Craft Cart volunteer should be dependable, friendly, able to provide clear concise directions and be comfortable making small talk. Volunteers should be able to push the cart and walk considerable distances.
Errand/escort dispatcher
This volunteer answers the busy Errand/Escort line and dispatches volunteers to complete the requested task. Volunteers should have excellent communication skills over the phone, good attention to detail and the ability to give clear instructions.
Errand/escort runner
Volunteers are dispatched to assist staff or departments by completing errands and escorting patients according to policies and procedures. Tasks may include answering phones to dispatch volunteers, assembling packets and mailings, taking medical records from one area to another, etc. Volunteers must have good communication skills and the ability to walk long distances
Friendly visitor in nursing units
Volunteers are assigned to a hospital floor and visit with patients and their families. Volunteers can read or write for patients, serve water and give some aid to nursing staff. Some walking and good communication skills are required.
Currently suspended due to Covid restrictions.
Front door greeter
The Front door greeter is the first and last person our patients and their family members see when they visit Roswell Park. A smiling face and warm personality are a requirement for this position. Volunteers should have good communication skills, working knowledge of the hospital’s layout and be comfortable working outdoors in the various seasons.
Gift Shop
Volunteers provide support for a busy retail and sundries shop. Responsibilities include assisting customers, cashiering, providing information about the store’s stock and assisting with inventory — such as stocking and marking goods, straightening, dusting, vacuuming, etc. Volunteers receive training and are required to have excellent customer service skills in addition to compassion and patience. Proceeds from sales support Roswell Park patient programs.
Hospitality Room
The Hospitality Room serves as a place for patients, visitors and family members to relax and escape from the day’s itinerary. It is a kitchen/living room equipped with comfortable seating, coffee, hot and cold running water (for tea), as well as small individually wrapped snacks. There is a television, a book lending library and magazines. Patient resource/education information is available as well. Two volunteers are scheduled to the room per shift and are responsible for making and dispensing the beverages or snacks while maintaining a positive demeanor. These individuals will keep the room tidy and restock items as necessary. It is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. The room also houses donated items such as knitted caps and lap robes for the visitors to enjoy. The volunteers chosen to staff the Hospitality Room are warm, positive, punctual,and dedicated to interacting with patients in a way doctors and clinicians cannot. Smiles are a staple in the Hospitality Room.
Currently suspended due to Covid restrictions.
Information Desk
Information Desk volunteers greet and direct patients, families, and visitors, answer telephones, receive floral arrangements as well as give directions, provide reduced parking slips and other information as required. Volunteer must have excellent communication skills, be self-motivated and able to maintain a pleasant demeanor even in difficult situations. Some computer skills are required. Two people are assigned for each shift. The Information Desk is currently only in the Clinical Sciences Center lobby. It is currently suspended in Main Hospital The desk is open Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Music in the Lobby
The goal of this program is to offer a variety of entertainment for patients, families, staff, and visitors of Roswell Park. Volunteer musicians perform in one-hour time slots on our stage in the Main Hospital lobby Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. All individuals and groups must have an audition before they can join the program. Music played is intended to be background music that is upbeat and positive. For more information or to schedule an audition please call 716-845-5708.
Nursing unit volunteer
Volunteers assist the nursing staff by performing a variety of tasks for staff and patients including running errands, transporting patients and paperwork. Must be mature, able to work with others, positive, compassionate and follow directions.
Currently suspended due to Covid restrictions.
Patient transport
Patient transporters spend most of their day on their feet, either moving patients or moving equipment from one area to another. Transporters must identify patients to make sure they're taking them to the correct destination. Volunteers must have good communication skills, working knowledge of the hospital’s layout and the ability to walk or travel long distances.
Spiritual Care visitor (day and evening)
A Spiritual Care volunteer ministers to the spiritual needs of patients and families under the direction of the Director of Spiritual Care. This volunteer demonstrates good verbal and listening communication skills, is mature, compassionate,and able to maintain confidentiality. Completion of an interfaith course is required.
Summer Student Volunteer Program
The Summer Student Volunteer Program allows for High school students between the age of 15-18 to obtain hands on experience working in a hospital setting, while at the same time obtaining community service hours. To learn more about this program and our requirements please visit the program's page. We accept applications when the program opens, until May 1st, or until the program reaches capacity. Please note, we do not offer high school student volunteer opportunities during the school year.
Therapy dog assistant
This volunteer escorts a therapy dog Team (dog and owner) as they visit the many lobbies and waiting areas of Roswell Park. This volunteer will announce to waiting areas that a dog is available for a visit. This individual should have good communication skills in English and love dogs.
Therapy dog teams (dog/owner)
Certified dogs and their volunteer owners provide companionship with emotional and physical benefits to patients/families/staff. Talking with volunteers and petting the dog provides a source of comfort in the clinical waiting areas. The volunteer and the dog need to interact well with patients, families and visitors. Therapy dogs should be certified by either Therapy Dogs International or Pet Partners.
Shuttle drivers
Volunteers will supplement the shuttle service for patients, visitors and employees under Roswell Park’s Public Safety office. Volunteers will provide transportation to and from on-street parking and surrounding neighborhoods. The Roswell Park vehicle will be stationed next to the parking ramp entrance. Volunteers will need good verbal skills, a friendly personality, be polite and patient, maintain confidentiality and be dependable and reliable. A defensive driving course is required and a check of your driving record will be conducted.
Yellow Jackets
This is a group of volunteers who bring the resources of the Patient Education Department and Cancer Resource Center out to patients and family members. They visit the lobby and waiting areas of the hospital with an “information cart” containing patient education materials and support services available including local points of interest or lodging. They also can help answer questions and direct patients to their appointment with a friendly and helpful demeanor.