Volunteers are needed all throughout the hospital. There are plenty of opportunities for people of any age or physical ability to make a difference for a cancer patient visiting Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Please click on the placement opportunities below for more information about each task.
Phone: 716-845-5708
Hours: Monday through Friday – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Volunteers provide comfort and support by welcoming newly diagnosed patients, connecting them to Roswell Park programs and community resources and offering assistance in the Elevate Salon. They may help patients choose wigs or head coverings and assist with checking in and out books, DVDs or electronic equipment. This role is ideal for compassionate, approachable individuals who enjoy making patients feel cared for and supported.
Volunteers play a vital role in creating a welcoming, supportive environment for families and friends while their loved ones are in surgery. They offer comfort and companionship in the waiting area, helping to ease stress during what can be an anxious time. Volunteers also act as an important communication link, relaying updates between medical staff and family members with care and professionalism.
Easily recognized by their blue blazers, these volunteers are the first friendly faces patients, families and visitors see when arriving at Roswell Park. As a Blue Coat Concierge, you’ll help create a warm and welcoming environment by greeting and assisting guests, providing directions and offering support with compassion and care. Volunteers may escort patients to appointments, answer questions and share information about hospital resources and services. This role is ideal for those who enjoy connecting with people, offering reassurance and making every visitor feel comfortable and supported during their time at Roswell Park.
Volunteers brighten patients' days by visiting hospital floors and clinical areas to share books and magazines. Using donated materials (dated within the last three months), volunteers sort and prepare reading selections, cover addresses for privacy and ensure waiting areas are refreshed with current magazines while removing outdated ones. This role brings comfort and distraction to patients and visitors through the simple joy of reading. Volunteers should enjoy interacting with others, have good communication skills and be comfortable walking throughout the hospital.
Volunteers assist staff in the Breast Imaging Center by providing support, helping patients navigate appointments and ensuring a welcoming environment. This role requires attention to detail, compassion and the ability to communicate clearly with patients and team members.
The Cancer Coach Program connects patients with trained volunteer cancer survivors who truly understand the impact of a diagnosis. By sharing their own experiences, Cancer Coaches offer comfort, encouragement and practical guidance to help reduce feelings of anxiety and isolation. While they do not provide medical advice, Cancer Coaches provide invaluable emotional support and reassurance, reminding patients that they are not alone on their journey. For more information about the program, please contact Richard Satterwhite at 716-845-1609.
Volunteers offer companionship and emotional support to patients receiving chemotherapy infusions. They provide conversation, encouragement and a friendly presence to help patients feel more comfortable during treatment. Volunteers should be empathetic, patient and sensitive to patients’ needs.
Volunteers work with the Child Life team to provide play, education and emotional support to children and their families during hospital visits. Activities may include reading, games or therapeutic play designed to reduce stress and anxiety. Volunteers should be energetic, compassionate and able to interact positively with children of all ages.
Volunteers brighten the day for patients and families by offering complimentary coffee, tea and snacks in clinic waiting areas. Working in pairs, they stock and prepare the cart, travel throughout clinics and engage visitors with warm conversation and kindness. At the end of a shift, volunteers return the cart to the kitchen and restock essentials for the next team. This role is best suited for friendly, self-motivated individuals with good communication skills, patience and the ability to walk comfortably with the cart.
Volunteers prepare and deliver arts and crafts supplies from the Patient Advocacy Department to patients and families in clinical waiting areas, offering a pleasant distraction and a friendly visit during their time at the hospital. This role provides opportunities for conversation, comfort and hospitality while encouraging creativity. At the end of each shift, volunteers restock the cart for the next team. Craft Cart Volunteers should be dependable, approachable, able to give clear instructions, enjoy small talk and be comfortable walking and pushing the cart throughout the hospital.
Volunteers serve as the hub for the busy Errand/Escort line, answering calls and dispatching volunteers to assist with requests throughout the hospital. This role requires strong communication skills over the phone, clear and accurate instruction-giving and attention to detail to ensure tasks are handled efficiently.
Volunteers assist staff and departments by completing errands and escorting patients in accordance with hospital policies and procedures. Responsibilities may include delivering medical records, assembling packets or mailings, escorting patients and answering phones to dispatch other volunteers. This role is best suited for dependable individuals with strong communication skills who are comfortable walking long distances.
As the first and last person patients and families see when visiting Roswell Park, volunteers in this role set the tone with a warm welcome and friendly farewell. Greeters provide directions, answer questions and offer support with a smile. Volunteers should have good communication skills, a working knowledge of the hospital’s layout and the ability to work outdoors in all seasons.
Volunteers support Roswell Park’s busy retail and sundries shop by assisting customers, operating the cash register and helping with stocking, inventory and light cleaning. This role is ideal for those with excellent customer service skills, patience and compassion. All proceeds from sales directly support patient programs, making this position both rewarding and impactful.
The Hospitality Room offers patients, visitors and families a welcoming space to relax with comfortable seating, coffee, tea, snacks and access to books, magazines and educational materials. Volunteers staff the room in pairs, providing beverages, snacks and warm conversation while keeping the space tidy and stocked. This role is perfect for dependable, positive individuals who enjoy offering comfort and hospitality in a calm, supportive setting. Smiles are always a staple in the Hospitality Room!
Volunteers at the Information Desk greet and assist patients, families and visitors, provide directions, answer telephones, receive floral deliveries and distribute reduced parking slips and other information as needed. Volunteers should have excellent communication skills, be self-motivated, maintain a pleasant demeanor even in challenging situations and possess basic computer skills. Two volunteers are assigned per shift. The Information Desk is currently located in the Clinical Sciences Center lobby (suspended at Main Hospital) and is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Volunteers assist patients in recording personal stories, messages or life experiences in audio or video format. This role helps preserve memories and allows patients to share meaningful experiences with loved ones. Volunteers should be attentive, patient and respectful of sensitive content.
Volunteers perform music to create a welcoming, uplifting environment for patients, families, staff and visitors in the Main Hospital lobby. Performances are in one-hour time slots, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and all individuals or groups audition before joining the program. Music should be positive and suitable as background entertainment. For more information or to schedule an audition, please call 716-845-5708.
Volunteers participate in the Patient & Family Advocacy Council, providing feedback, suggestions and support to improve patient care and hospital services. This role involves active listening, collaboration and a commitment to representing patient and family perspectives effectively.
Volunteers support the inpatient pharmacy team by assisting with administrative tasks, organizing supplies and helping ensure timely delivery of medications. Volunteers should be detail-oriented, organized and able to maintain strict confidentiality and safety standards.
Volunteers provide gentle, hands-on or distance Reiki therapy to patients under the guidance of the Spiritual Care Department. This role offers relaxation, stress reduction and emotional support for patients and families. Volunteers should be certified in Reiki, demonstrate compassion, maintain confidentiality and communicate effectively with patients and staff.
The Summer Student Volunteer Program offers high school students ages 15–18 the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a hospital setting while earning community service hours. Students learn about hospital operations and patient support through a variety of volunteer activities. Applications are accepted when the program opens and continue until May 1st or until capacity is reached. High school student volunteer opportunities are only available during the summer and the program is typically geared toward students who are seniors or entering their senior year. Updated program information is posted each spring on the program’s landing page, so interested students should check back regularly for details.
Volunteers support the Spiritual Care Department with administrative tasks such as scheduling visits, maintaining records and preparing materials for patients and staff. This role requires attention to detail, strong organizational skills, discretion and a friendly, professional demeanor.
Volunteers bring the sacraments and spiritual comfort to patients in coordination with the Spiritual Care Department. This role involves offering communion, prayer and spiritual guidance in a compassionate and respectful manner. Volunteers should demonstrate maturity, strong interpersonal skills and the ability to maintain patient confidentiality.
Volunteers provide spiritual support to patients and families under the guidance of the Director of Spiritual Care. This role requires compassion, maturity, strong verbal and listening skills and the ability to maintain confidentiality. Completion of an interfaith course is required prior to volunteering.
Volunteers lead or assist in Tai Chi sessions for patients, families, and staff to promote relaxation, balance and overall wellness. This role is ideal for individuals skilled in Tai Chi who enjoy teaching or guiding groups in gentle movement. Volunteers should be patient, encouraging and able to adapt exercises to accommodate varying physical abilities.
Volunteers escort certified therapy dog teams (dog and owner) as they visit lobbies and waiting areas throughout Roswell Park. They help announce the dog’s availability for visits and ensure interactions run smoothly. This role is ideal for individuals with strong English communication skills who enjoy working with dogs and bringing comfort to patients, families and staff.
Certified therapy dogs and their volunteer owners provide emotional and physical comfort to patients, families and staff in clinical waiting areas. Interacting with the dogs—through petting and conversation—offers a source of reassurance and joy. Teams must demonstrate a friendly, gentle demeanor and be certified through Therapy Dogs International or Pet Partners to participate.
Yellow Jacket volunteers bring the resources of the Patient Education Department and Cancer Resource Center directly to patients and families. Using an “information cart,” they visit hospital lobbies and waiting areas to provide educational materials, details about support services and local resources such as lodging or points of interest. Volunteers answer questions, offer guidance, and help direct patients to appointments, all while maintaining a friendly and approachable demeanor.