Volunteer or donate

In addition to supporting Veterans in your area, you'll enjoy the following benefits as a VA volunteer: 

• Free Canteen meals during shifts of 4 or more hours
• Free parking 
• Education opportunities, such as CPR training
• Free annual tuberculosis test
• Free annual flu shot
• Job skills development
• Job search opportunities

Whatever your interests, Wilkes-Barre health care has volunteer opportunities for you. 

Below are some ways you can help. Other assignments not listed here might be available as well. If you’re interested in volunteering or have special skills to offer, please contact us so we can discuss how you can best help our patients. We also have special short-term projects that we need help with from time to time. All volunteers must complete a background check. 

While some volunteer opportunities require specific times, most are flexible to fit your schedule. 

Current Available Volunteer Opportunities at the Wilkes-Barre VA

Caregiver Support Volunteer: Volunteers are assigned as a Peer Mentor to a caregiver as part of the VA National Caregiver Peer Support Mentoring Program. Through this relationship, Peer Mentors provide advice, support, and guidance to their Mentee, mostly via telephone-mail and informally. Guidance is provided by the Wilkes-Barre Caregiver Support Coordinator.

COMPASSIONATE CONTACT CORPS: Volunteers provide Veterans with conversation and companionship via phone visits or video chat. Visits often involve sharing life stories and topics of mutual interest with a compassionate, friendly voice in a safe non-judgmental process.

DAV Volunteer Driver: Volunteer drivers provide transportation to Veterans in need of medical care at the Beckley VA Medical Center and outpatient clinics. The number of Veterans relying on volunteer transportation has more than doubled since 2020. The need is greater than ever. 

Kiosk Assistant: Volunteers assist Veterans using the KIOSKS throughout the medical center while offering gentle reminders to maintain social distancing and hand hygiene. This position is available at WBVAMC and AOPC.

PROGRAM SUPPORT Volunteer: Volunteers assist with retrieving and delivery of mail to multiple services and sorting mail for multiple medical providers and VA employees.

Red Coat Ambassadors: These volunteers can be found at the Information Desk inside the main entrance of the VA Medical Center. Their red coats or vests make them easy to spot and these volunteers provide assistance with navigation, information and other various capacities of customer service.

Shuttle Driver: Provide transportation assistance from the parking lots to the medical center to Veterans and visitors who may have mobility limitations.

Travel Claims Assistant: Volunteers will assist Veterans enrolling into the online travel system for travel reimbursement. Must have basic knowledge of web-based applications.

If you’re a student who’s 14 to 18 years old, volunteer for us this summer. You can learn more about health careers, sharpen your job skills, meet fantastic people—and have fun.

The summer youth  volunteer program is on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Volunteer to make a difference

As a youth volunteer, you’ll help in many ways:

• Serve coffee
• Direct and escort patients within VA facilities 
• Help in clinics
• Help with recreation programs

Perks

You’ll qualify for these great benefits:

• Summer youth certificate for 80 hours (or more) of service
• Free VA summer youth volunteer polo shirt
• Free lunch for 4 or more hours of service
• Free parking
• Invitation to join special programs throughout the summer

How to join us 

If you're a student who wants to participate in our summer youth program, or you know students who might be interested, contact our Voluntary Services office. 

Phone: , ext. 4556 or email VHABECVAVS@va.gov.

Make a difference in the lives of our Veterans through floor visits or sponsoring special programs at our community living center. Here’s your chance to join in the fun, friendships, and laughter by sponsoring one of our programs. 

Group volunteer opportunities are on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Bingo: Provide volunteers to run bingo games. Please bring prizes purchased from our Canteen.
• Catered lunch: Provide and serve a catered lunch from a local restaurant for a patient unit.
• Community activity: Connect Veterans with the community by buying gift cards or donating admission fees to movies, musicals, bowling, and sports games.
• Craft or hobby: Lead craft projects such as painting and woodworking. Your group will bring the supplies and lead Veterans in the project.
• Fourth of July cookout: Help our Veterans celebrate Independence Day. Your group will provide, cook, and serve a meal.
• Social: Provide decorations and refreshments for group social events such as birthday parties, ice cream socials, holiday celebrations, and Veterans Day activities.

Donating is just a click away now that VA medical centers accept donations online. You just need a major credit card, debit card, checking account, or savings account. 
Make an online donation

If you'd like to donate to Beckley VA Medical Center, please send a check (payable to "Beckley VA Medical Center") to the following address:

Attn: Voluntary Services Office
Beckley VA Medical Center
200 Veterans Ave.
Beckley, WV 25801

Some people prefer to give money, while others prefer to donate items needed by our Veterans. We appreciate all forms of generosity.

Note: We don’t accept donations of VHS tapes, used clothing, bar soap, wheelchair bags, bootleg DVDs, hotel toiletries, medical equipment or supplies, bibs, lap robes, lap quilts, small blankets, or mouthwash.

We appreciate the following items: 

Personal care

• Body-care products: lotion, liquid soap, deodorant, and shaving cream or gel
• Dental supplies: toothbrushes, toothpaste, toothbrush holders, and denture adhesive
• Disposable brand-name twin razors
• Earplugs
• Hairbrushes and combs
• Reading glasses
• Thermometers
• Tissues

Clothing (new only)

• Gloves 
• Hats (winter hats and baseball caps)
• Hooded sweatshirts 
• Jeans and pants 
• Long-sleeve shirts 
• Shower shoes, flip-flops
• Sneakers and shoes 
• Socks
• Suspenders and belts
• Sweatpants 
• Sweatshirts
• T-shirts 
• Underwear, all men’s and women’s sizes 
• Winter coats 

Assorted items

• Books
• Chess and checkers sets
• Disposable cups, napkins, plates, forks, and spoons
• Fleece blankets (twin size)
• Gift cards for gas and groceries ($10 to $25 each card)
• Magazines, 6 months or newer
• Markers for art projects
• Personal-size bedside fan (not floor models)
• Puzzle books, unused
• Reading glasses (1.25 and higher) and eyeglass repair kits
• Wheelchair cup holders

VA supportive housing needs

• All-purpose cleaner

• Baking sheets

• Bath towel sets

• Bedbug mattress covers (queen)

• Blankets (twin or queen)

• Brooms with dustpans

• Buckets

• Clocks

• Clock radios

• Countertop microwaves

• Crock-Pots

• Dish or laundry soap

• Dishes and silverware sets for 4 people

• First-aid kits (small)

• Flashlights

• Frying pans

• Kitchen utensil sets

• Lysol spray

• Mattresses

• Measuring cups, spatulas, and mixing bowls

• Paper towel

• Pillows

• Potholders

• Pots with lids

• Sheet sets (twin or queen)

• Small or medium coffee makers (no Keurig)

• Swiffer cleaning products

• Toilet brushes

• Toilet paper

• Vacuum cleaners