Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Welcomes 2023 Summer Student Volunteers

The annual program affords local students the opportunity to work with other Veteran volunteers and employees as part of the Bay Pines VA’s Center for Development and Civic Engagement.

“We’re proud to have these young men and women step forward and express a desire to learn more about Veterans and ways they can support their needs within our community,” said U.S. Army Veteran Frank Jones who serves as the chief of CDCE for Bay Pines VA Healthcare System.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, student volunteers are liaisons with their communities and provide a valuable element of caring for Veterans that allows student volunteers to learn more about health care career options, gaining experience in a health care environment, learning new skills, and opportunities make new friends.

“Each one of these student volunteers has grown up during a time when our country has been at war,” added Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Deputy Director Kris Brown. “Every student volunteer will have the opportunity to connect with Veterans across our campus, and we feel this presents amazing opportunities for Veterans and these student volunteers to share experiences and learn from one another.”

Jones added that the support from family members remains critically important during the application process for volunteers each year.

“We have a lot of applicants who have military ties with family and friends who served, and I believe that’s one of the reasons we have such strong turnouts for applicants each year,” continued Jones. “Additionally, the parents in this community continue to reflect – through their own actions, the importance of giving back to their community, and we see that reflect in their sons and daughters who volunteer each year.”

Brown added that Bay Pines VA’s Lee County Healthcare Center plans to welcome an additional eight student volunteers during their orientation, June 8.

Robert Frazier, Public Affairs Officer