There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available to adults and students over the age of 16 at our hospital. Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive, and the specific requirements of the programs we offer, we are unable to place every applicant. Below are brief descriptions of the volunteer opportunities here at MUSC Children's Health. For more information about volunteering, please visit the main Volunteer Opportunities page on MUSC Health.
For weekly placements, all volunteers, including students, must commit to a two-hour weekly shift for a minimum of one year (total 100 hours).
Child Life and Playrooms
Volunteers work one on one with children in the atrium or at bedside providing companionship and play opportunities for our patients ages 0 to 18. Placements are available Monday through Sunday between 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and Monday through Friday between 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Outpatient Clinic Volunteering
Volunteers assist in providing patients with appropriate activities and play opportunities to help minimize stress and anxiety. Also assists to meet the needs of the patient, parents, family, and Care Team Members. Volunteer opportunities available at MUSC Children’s Health R. Keith Summey Medical Pavilion located in North Charleston.
Unit-based Placements
Unit-based volunteers are placed on inpatient units to support staff to interact with children as well as support the clinical staff with responsibilities, such as:
Unit-based Volunteer Placements include:
Happy Wheels
Thursdays are a very special day at MUSC Children's Health! If you walk through the halls between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., you will probably see volunteers pushing the Happy Wheels cart. This cart carries new books and toys to all of the children in the hospital each week. Each child is given the opportunity to "shop" for that something special on the cart that will hopefully make their stay more tolerable. The children look forward each week to the Happy Wheels cart coming around and stopping by their room. Volunteers are rewarded by bright smiles, and happy faces as the children choose their gift. Visit Donation Wishlist for needed items for our Happy Wheels Program.
Courtesy Cart
The Courtesy Cart goes door to door offering coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and individualized snacks to patients, caregivers, and Care Team Members in the hospital. This placement is available in three-hour shifts throughout the day. This cart is 100% donation funded by the support of the community, visit our Cart Wishlist to donate our most needed items.
Activity Cart
Activity Cart volunteers interact with and provide activities for children in the waiting rooms and in the clinics. Bringing positive interactions and play to our patients where they can, our volunteers wheel activity carts that contain books (board, chapter, young adult, and Spanish) and activity pads (coloring pages, word games, puzzles) for all ages.
Family Meals
Through the Family Meals Program, we serve meals to families who are staying at the hospital with their children and help to provide nourishment to those who may not be able to leave bedside. This program minimizes the financial impact of hospitalization on the family. Our Family Meals Program has grown tremendously since its inception – from a group serving one Saturday morning a month to many groups serving meals as often as three days a week. See below to Get Involved providing Family Meals.
Wellness Works program
The Wellness Works program supports children and adolescents (ages 2 to 21)who enroll in the family-oriented educational program to learn tools toprevent health problems by making better choices and living healthier lives.Volunteers help run the Fit Kids exercise portion of the program by exercisingwith enrollees and inspiring them to continue working on healthy habits.Volunteers are required to sign up for at least one one-hour sessionper month.
For more information about the Wellness Works Fit Kids program, please contact Janet Carter via email.
Due to the sensitive nature of our patient population, all donations must come from a pet free and smoke-free environment. All donations must be NEW materials and freshly laundered before donating. Learn more about our donation guidelines (including items on our wish list).
Ryan's Case for Smiles
Ryan's Cases for Smiles started when Cindy Kerr's son was diagnosed with cancer in 2002 and she began making pillowcases to brighten up his hospital room and to put a smile on his face. He loved it and so she began making Handmade Donations pillowcases for other children on the Oncology Unit at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. As a result of the positive response from her local hospital, Cindy began the non-profit ConKerr Cancer: A Case for Smiles. Local volunteers have joined the effort to provide pillowcases for our young patients. If you would like to get involved, the pattern can be downloaded from the Ryan's Cases for Smiles website.
Scrub Hats
Similar to child-friendly pillowcases, we offer a variety of fun, friendly scrub hats for children preparing for surgery or undergoing a Video EEG test.
Therapy Dolls
The Child Life Department has expressed interest for homemade, blank therapy dolls. Patients are often apprehensive about what to expect during their hospital stay and are encouraged to decorate and personalize their dolls as a part of their treatment process. Not only can these dolls be used to help develop a friendly, open rapport between children and hospital staff through play and activities, but they are also useful tools in preparing children for their treatments. The dolls enable staff to assess a child’s perceptions and feelings in a non-threatening manner, while also demonstrating clinical tasks, such as showing the child where injections or surgical incisions will occur. If you are interested in creating therapy dolls, please follow these instructions and use this pattern.
Knitting & Crocheting Projects
New, soft blankets for full-term babies, older children, and parents are always welcome. The dimensions for these should be between 30” x 36” and 44” x 60.”
We love donations of hats and blankets for preemies and full term babies and get more of these than anything else. If you are thinking about making hats or blankets, please see if there are any other projects you may be interested in.
For more information, please contact our Women's & Children's Coordinator Melissa Kubu at fullerme@musc.edu or 843-985-1020.
