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Voluntary Services

You can make a difference when you volunteer at or donate to the Cincinnati VAMC Healthcare System.

Join our volunteer team and help make our Veterans' stay more enjoyable. Volunteers must register with the VA Voluntary Services Office and pass a required background check and health screening. Depending on your assignment, you may need extra training. 

We’ll match your talents with one of our many volunteer opportunities. 

 

Voluntary Services forms:

Contact Information

Voluntary Services 

Room C-137

3200 Vine Street 

Cincinnati, Ohio 45220

 

Volunteer Applications:

Ashly Collins

Voluntary Service Specialist

Cincinnati VAMC

3200 Vine Street, Room C137

Cincinnati, OH 45220

ext. 204058

Ashly.Collins2@Va.gov

 

 

 

Donations:

Kenneth “KC” Carter

Recreation Specialist

Cincinnati VAMC

3200 Vine Street, Room C1032

Cincinnati, OH 45220

ext. 206447

Kenneth.Carter3@Va.Gov

 

 

Corporate, Business & Group Volunteer Opportunities

Are you looking for an opportunity for a group to volunteer?  Voluntary Service can tailor a project to your needs!

 

Please contact us at VHACINVoluntaryServices@va.gov or 513.861.3100 ext. 204058

Individual Volunteer Opportunities

We are very excited to have a vital, vibrant volunteer force at our facility.  Our goal is to ensure that the volunteer experience at the Cincinnati VA is as rewarding to the volunteer as it is beneficial to the patients, families, visitors, and caregivers. 

To learn more about becoming a volunteer, please contact us at VHACINVoluntaryServices@va.gov or 513.861.3100 ext. 204058

Volunteer Profile

  • Cincinnati VA volunteers come from all areas of the community and represent a variety of professions, physical abilities, age groups, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
  • All have made the commitment to donate their time to patients, families and visitors and become a part of our community.
  • Adult volunteers (minimum of 18 years old) who are considered to be Regularly Scheduled are asked to commit to a minimum of 4 hours each week for a minimum of one year.
  • Volunteers are educated about the importance of ethics and confidentiality, professional behavior and appearance, proper patient interaction, universal precautions, infection control, fire safety and information privacy and cyber security.

Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering at the Cincinnati VA Medical Care Center offers many wonderful benefits including:

  • Serve those who served (our Nation’s Veterans)
  • Formal and informal recognition events
  • Receive a free lunch when volunteering 4 hours or more
  • Access to free parking
  • Access to free flu shots and COVID Vaccine
  • Access to free training classes

Fund Categories for Donations

GPF 1001 General Purpose Funds

GPF 1004 Veterans Serenity Garden

GPF 1014 Cinti & FTD Earmarked Funds

GPF 1019 Christmas & Holiday Funds

GPF 1064 VAVS Committee Fund

GPF 1006 HCHV & HUD/VACH Program Funds

GPF 1009 Social Work Funds

GPF 1010 Vet Center

GPF 1011 Fisher House

GPF 1051 PTSD Recreation Funds

GPF 1053 Chaplin Services Funds

GPF 1056 MHCL Recreation

GPF 1057 Recreation Therapy (CLC)

GPF 1059 Spinal Cord Injury Fund

Van Donation

Volunteering FAQ's

Who can volunteer?

  • Must be 18 or older
  • Must be willing to make a commitment
  • Can begin the volunteer process at any time of the year
  • Must be willing to undergo a background check and Tuberculosis test
  • Must have COVID vaccination(s)
  • Must have flu vaccination

When do you need volunteers?

  • Normal operating hours are M-F, from 7:30am-4:30pm (with the exception of some positions)
  • Special events (weekends/weeknights)

What if I only have time to volunteer on the evenings and weekends?

Currently, we do not have any evening or weekend regularly scheduled positions, however we do host special events that occur on weekends and evenings.

I am considering a career in healthcare. Can I shadow a healthcare practitioner?

Our volunteers have a wide range of contact with a variety of staff members; however, the volunteer experience is not structured to provide a shadowing/observational encounter.  Please speak with the Voluntary Service Specialist for more details.

Once I apply, how long does it take to become a volunteer?

The volunteer onboarding process can take 2-6 weeks to complete.  It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of our patients and residents with a thorough screening process.  This screening process includes a criminal background check and, in some cases, a physical examination and verification of driver’s license. 

Will I be trained?

Volunteers will observe an orientation video online and will then have a more specific orientation when they reach their unit/department. 

Can my group/organization/company come for one day and visit Veterans?

We appreciate the gesture but, due to patient confidentiality and infection control policies, we are unable to accommodate group volunteering on a short-term basis.  If your group is interested in doing a project for the hospital, please contact Voluntary Service at x 206057 for an activity that can benefit the patients and staff at our hospital.

May I come and perform at the hospital?

If you or your group is interested in performing at the hospital, please call x6447 for more information.

Donation FAQ's

How do I deliver my donation?

Please call Voluntary Service at x 206447 to inform us of your donation so that we may discuss an appropriate time for drop-off.  Voluntary Service is in room C137, 3200 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45231.

What items are needed at Cincinnati VA Medical Center?

Please call Voluntary Service at x 206447 or email us at VHACINVoluntaryServices@Va.Gov to obtain a current wish list of items needed.

 

Because our patients come from diverse religious, political, and social backgrounds, we require that all donations be religiously and politically neutral.

Is my donation tax deductible?

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 8301, VA is authorized to accept donations or gifts for the benefit of the patient.  The internal Revenue Service has announced that under the Tax Code, donations to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs General Post Fund for exclusively public purposes are deductible from federal income taxes in the manner and to the extent allowable.  The announcement reflects the tax law provision which makes those donations deductible as “donations to the United States.”

 

All donations will be acknowledged.  If you deliver your donation, please complete a donor form.  If you are sending a donation, please include your name, address, and phone number, and the estimated value of the donation.  We will send you a letter of acknowledgement.  We do not specify dollar amounts in our acknowledgment letters.

Will someone pick up my donation?

We are not able to pick up donations because of staffing and transportation limitations.  However, in kind donations can be mailed to Voluntary Service (135), Cincinnati VA Medical Center, 3200 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45231.

Can I donate food?

No homemade food (including candy) may be given to patients.  Many of our patients are on dietary restrictions and cannot have certain foods.  Please do not bring any edible donations to the hospital.  We also ask that you not include any food with other donations unless discussed with a Voluntary Service staff member.