Volunteer Ideas

Started by TrippingBillies41
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TrippingBillies41

TrippingBillies41

Full Member
7+ Year Member
I noticed that the most competetive applicants have volunteering in their applications as part of ECs to show they care about people and the community. I was wondering if anyone had ideas of oraganizations that would be good for this sort of thing, or if most people volly at hospital. I work full time while working on grade replacement so I do not have the most time in the world but I would like to get involved over the next 2 years before I apply for the 2018 cycle. I could also volly as an EMT on a local ambulance if that would help aswell. Any experiences would be helpful, thanks!
 
Think about what you would like to do as a volunteer and/or community you want to help. After, do some research on what's available in your area and just give them a call.

To start, you can try local community centers, group homes, senior citizen communities, adult learning centers, schools, shelters and group homes.

I'm not sure what's needed in your community or what you are into, but doing something you care about makes it less about "checking off a box" and more about helping.

Edit: you could volunteer as an EMT but make sure you have non clinical experience as well.
 
member000000000 said:
doing something you care about makes it less about "checking off a box" and more about helping
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This x1000.

Plus many volunteer jobs are fun on top of providing a service to the community. I volunteered at a food bank (among other things). Most of the time we were sorting food amd it was a low mental effort activity where you could spend the time talking to other volunteers, many of whom were also dependant on the donations there. It was the perfect activity after a long week of studying.
 
Perfect I will start looking in my area. Would it be better to try out many different events or foundations or stick with one for a longer period of time?
 
TrippingBillies41 said:
Perfect I will start looking in my area. Would it be better to try out many different events or foundations or stick with one for a longer period of time?
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IMHO a longer period of time with one organization looks better- showing commitment.

Also I had a lot of hospital volunteering too. I liked it and I felt the mix was important. Hospital volunteering also makes it easier to get shadowing opportunities too.
 
Volunteer 4 hours a week at your local hospital. I have volunteered in ER and Radiology. ER department is by far most interesting and most interactive so I would suggest that even though it is the most common.
 
For clinical volunteering, try hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, Planned Parenthood, hospice, camps for sick kids, or crisis hotlines.

For non-clinical volunteering, which you'll also need, check out your local houses of worship. And Habitat for Humanity is a favorite of mine. Best to be of service to others less fortunate than yourself.
 
You can find different hospice agencies via Medicare.gov and type in your zip code. Will give you a list of hospice agencies that serve the area you live in. Most agencies try to keep their volunteers close to where they live- you do have to go through background checks and do some hours of training. Call up the agency and ask for their volunteer coordinator and get things rolling that way.

Shameless reccomendation for hospice as I work in the field and we can never have too many volunteers! Many agencies have programs within hospice considered a "volunteer vigil" where volunteers will sit with dying pt so they don't pass alone. I've done it, and it's truly an experience you will want to speak to in your interviews (or when anyone ever asks you what being involved in hospice is like, which is a question I get all the time).
 
If you look at my sig, you'll see I'm pro-free clinics. These organizations exist to reach those who can't afford insurance or fall through the cracks in the ACA. They really do make a difference, so check and see if you have one in your area. They usually provide ample opportunity to "move up" in terms of what you get to do.
 
costales said:
Avoid the for-profit chains if you can - don't give them free labor to fatten their profits:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/busi...f75bbe-68c9-11e3-ae56-22de072140a2_story.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/business/collection/business-of-dying/
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This... This is ignorant and biased garbage. Trying to write about a controversial topic to get more readers to view their site.
I'm so baffled at the sewage spewed forth from this article that I can't even begin to form some semblance of an argument. All I can say is, healthcare is a business. There are positives and negatives to all facets of the healthcare system. And there will be outliers to each. We all know what big corporations are like... I've been able to work for a large corporate hospice agency, as well as a locally based one where the owner shows up to my meetings with nursing home administrators. There is good and bad to both.
 
Just pick whatever is closest and most convenient for you. Everything that you might do has been done before. The point of this is to check off the box and then be able to talk about in an interview. Don't give it too much though.
 
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