Volunteer or donate

Become a volunteer

Join our volunteer team and experience the rewards of helping our nation’s heroes. Our volunteers make our patients’ experience at VA Hudson Valley health care more enjoyable. You can, too. We’ll match your talents with one of our many fulfilling volunteer opportunities. 

To become a volunteer, call or visit us at our Montrose or Castle Point health care’s Volunteer Services office.

Phone:   Castle Point, Ext 215135

                   Montrose, Ext 20371             

Whatever your interests, Hudson Valley VA health care system 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. 

Patient care

• Coffee program: Prepare and serve refreshments.
• Escort: Bring patients to medical clinics, chapel, recreation, and programs.
• Food and nutrition: Help patients select and complete menus, open containers, cut food into bite-size portions, and feed patients during mealtimes.
• Front desk: Greet outpatients, guests, visitors, and patients' families, answer phones, and transfer calls at the information desk.
• One-on-one visitation: Be a compassionate companion on call with our No Veteran Dies Alone program or visit with our patients while they recover. 
• Pet visitation: Bring your therapy dog to visit with Veterans.
• Recreation: Help with arts and crafts projects, play bedside games, help on field trips, show bedside movies, and help therapists with activities.
• Food Pantry: Provide food items to eligible Veterans
• Volunteer clothing room attendant: Hand out men’s and women’s clothing.

• Transportation: Drive patients from their homes in Dutchess County to the Castle Point VA medical center. Vehicles donated by the DAV. Background check and Physical exam are required.

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.

Volunteer opportunities for youth

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 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

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: Castle Point, Ext 215135

                Montrose, Ext 203715

Donate online

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. 

Donate online · Customer Self-Service (va.gov)

Donate by mail

If you'd like to donate to VA Hudson Valley health care, please send a check (payable to VA Hudson Valley  Healthcare System) to the following address:

Castle Point

VA Hudson Valley HCS

Attention Voluntary Services

41 Castle Point Road

Wappingers Falls NY 12590

 

Montrose

VA Hudson Valley HCS

Attention Voluntary Services

2094 Albany Post Road

Montrose NY 10548

 

Donation’s suggestions:

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, bar soap, wheelchair bags, bootleg DVDs, hotel toiletries, medical equipment or supplies, and bibs

We appreciate the following items: 

Personal care

• Body-care products: lotion, liquid soap, deodorant, and shaving cream or gel
• Shampoo, conditioner
• Dental supplies: toothbrushes, toothpaste, toothbrush holders, Alcohol free mouthwash and denture adhesive
• Disposable brand-name twin razors
• Hairbrushes and combs

Clothing (new or gently used only)

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

Assorted items

• Fleece blankets (twin size)- new
• Gift cards for groceries ($10 to $25 each card)
• Markers for art projects
• Puzzle books, unused
• Reading glasses (1.25 and higher) and eyeglass repair kits

VA supportive housing needs- items must be new

• All-purpose cleaner
• Baking sheets-new
• Bath towel sets-new
• Blankets (twin or queen)-new
• Brooms with dustpans-new
• Buckets-new
• Dish or laundry soap
• Dishes and silverware set for 4 people-new
• First-aid kits (small)
• Flashlights-new
• Frying pans-new
• Kitchen utensil sets-new
• Lysol spray
• Measuring cups, spatulas, and mixing bowls-new
• Paper towel
• Potholders-new
• Pots with lids-new
• Sheet sets (twin or queen)-new
• Swiffer cleaning products
• Toilet brushes
• Toilet paper

Contact us

For more information on donating items or to schedule a drop-off time, please contact our Voluntary Service office:

Castle Point:

Deborah Loughran
Voluntary Service Specialist

Deborah.Loughran@va.gov
Phone 845 831 2000, ext. 215135

Montrose:

Ellie Schaffer
Voluntary Service Specialist

Ellie.Schaffer@va.gov
Phone 914 737 4400, ext. 203715

In-person: 

VA Hudson Valley Health Care System

41 Castle Point Rd, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Voluntary Service Program
Building 15, Rm #H024

2094 Albany Post Road, Montrose NY 10548

Voluntary Service Program

Building 14 Room 8