Sioux Falls Volunteer Opportunities

Requirements include:

• Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Some positions require a minimum age of 19 years old.
• Volunteers must be able to communicate clearly in English.

We cannot accept volunteers who are meeting court-mandated community service hours.

Our patients and families deserve the very best. We need people who:

• Display competency – can learn the position and remember the details
• Are compassionate – understand the stress of a hospitalization
• Defend a patient's right to privacy – our volunteers are held to a strict code of confidentiality
• Are respectful – we serve all walks of life, economic status and an increasingly diverse population

We require volunteers to complete the following process:

• Application: Apply for a medical center, clinic and wellness center opportunity or a hospice position
• Phone interview
• Criminal background check
• Provide an updated vaccination record

During your interview, you’ll also schedule a:

• One-hour orientation, which includes a health assessment and an office visit
• Department orientation

Enhance the patient experience by providing a caring presence to patients during transport and assisting the therapist with treatment as directed. Also provide support to staff by providing housekeeping, clerical and restocking supplies as able.

Requirements: Ages16 and up.

Volunteers will visit patients in hospice care, help with a weekly activity for patients and family, and assist staff with tasks as needed.

Requirements: ages 19+

To assist the Neonatal Intensive Care staff by providing physical and mental stimulation to the hospitalized infant/child by holding babies in the NICU

Requirements: Ages 19 and up

“Rocking babies in the NICU is the best thing I have done since I retired. Rocking babies in the NICU is good for the babies and good for you!” – Joan

All available positions are currently filled.

Volunteers assist boutique customers with retail purchases, operate the cash register, schedule customers for personal fitting appointments, track inventory, and assist with opening and closing the boutique.

Requirements: Ages 16 and up

Volunteers support, socialize with, coach, and explain room amenities to the patient. Volunteers also will provide support to Ortho/Neuro nursing and therapy staff by assisting with housekeeping, clerical duties, call lights, refreshments/meals, transport support, and restocking supplies as able.

Requirements: Ages 16 and up.

The Children's Hospital at Sanford is home to both inpatient, outpatient and Physician offices. Volunteers provide patients waiting with a warm welcome and escort patients and families to test areas or patient rooms.

Requirements: Ages 16 and up.

Gift Shop volunteers provide “retail therapy” by touching the lives of patients, families and staff that come into the gift shop. Volunteers will assist gift shop staff in maintaining outstanding customer service by generating sales, merchandising, ringing transactions, taking phone orders and delivering flowers or gifts to patients’ rooms. Gift Shop profits are used to support scholarships, patient care, programs and medical equipment here at Sanford USD Medical Center and Sanford Children’s Hospital.

Requirements: Ages 16 and up.

To bring comfort and relaxation to the patients in the Birth Place by providing tea and snack service to patient rooms.

Requirements: Ages 16 and up.

“Volunteering is the best job I don’t have to chart on and don’t get a pay check for; but instead get to hopefully bring a little positivity, comfort & a smile to other. On the Birth place newborn unit I can especially celebrate the mom, on the birth of a new baby, with tea & sweets and a word of congratulations. A smile is the best paycheck.” – Peg

To enhance the Emergency Department healthcare team in providing non-medical information, support and comfort to patients and their families/visitors. This volunteer will visit patients and families while they are waiting for test results or to be seen by healthcare team.

Requirements: Ages 19 and up.

Volunteers here act as greeters to those who visit, answer visitor questions, and provide clerical help for special Foundation & Children's Miracle Network projects.

Volunteers in this area assist with discharging patients, cleaning carts, replacing linens, and helping support staff.

Requirements: Ages 16 and up.

Gift Shop volunteers provide “retail therapy” by touching the lives of patients, families and staff that come into the gift shop. Volunteers will assist gift shop staff in maintaining outstanding customer service by generating sales, merchandising, ringing transactions, taking phone orders and delivering flowers or gifts to patients’ rooms.

Requirements: Ages 16 and up.

Sanford Orthopedics & Sports Medicine’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation assists individuals in the recovery from surgery, injuries and illnesses. We help patients develop mobility, strength, balance, activities of daily living, problem solving, swallowing, speech, memory and leisure. Volunteers in Inpatient Rehabilitation assist staff with patient therapies, cleaning and clerical support.

Requirements: Ages 16 and up.

“One of my favorite things about volunteering in inpatient rehab is how awesome the therapists are. They really care about their patients and they always involve me whenever they can. I am hoping to be a PT one day and they do a great job on explaining different things about their job. Overall, volunteering there has been a great experience for me.” – Emma

These positions are primarily for student volunteers who want to explore the world of healthcare. Pre-med or nursing students who want to gain experience on an Inpatient unit will enjoy this area. From Critical Care to Surgical Cardiovascular and more, these volunteers help with product outdates, patient discharges, rounding on patients who need extra TLC, restocking supplies, etc. Opportunities are available to explore the different job roles involved on the unit – patient care techs, nursing, physicians, food services, and more!

Provide assistance to IT staff by helping to inventory equipment, charging and moving equipment, and replaying any incoming IT requests. We have over 5,000 staff at the Medical Center alone, so there is a lot of opportunity to assist with IT needs in various departments.

To offer assistance, support and encouragement to heart disease patients and their families about their heart procedure and document any concerns that need a follow up visit.

Requirements: Ages 19 and up. Must have had a heart procedure, be a caregiver who is visiting with the patients and visit together, or a health care professional.

“Heart patients like to talk to a person who is a heart patient. They can relate and they know you have had similar experiences. They will open up and discuss things that their families and friends may not understand but you do.” – Joan

Sanford has four outpatient therapy areas. Volunteers in these areas assist therapists in patient treatment. This may include, but is not limited to escorting patients, cleaning equipment, stocking items/equipment, and light clerical duties.

Requirements: Ages 16 and up.

To escort patients from registration area to outpatient testing location, inpatient rooms or other locations within the hospital. This volunteer will provide patients waiting in the registration area with a warm welcome to Sanford USD Medical Center and help alleviate anxiety as they wait. This role does include a lot of walking.

Requirements: Ages 16 and up.

Volunteers assist Child Life & Pediatric staff in playing with patients ranging from newborns to 17 year olds. In this role, volunteers will read to and play games with children, wash toys, assist with patient transportation within the hospital, and help with special events.

Requirements: Ages 19 and up. Must have a passion for bettering the emotional and developmental needs of children in the hospital.

This program utilizes pet therapy dogs as a therapeutic modality to enhance emotional, physical, cognitive, and social function of hospitalized patients on the cardiology, pulmonary, orthopedics/neurology and children's units. Sanford requires certification through Therapy Dogs International.

“Volunteering at Sanford is a selfish indulgence. I get back so much more than I give. I am a pet therapy volunteer. My dog Murphy and I get to visit three different departments. Each is unique. Our visits to the ED is mainly for the staff. Murphy loves it there, especially when they announce his name when he arrives over the speaker. We also get to visit the 5th floor surgical ward. We see all kinds of people and enjoy visiting with them, their visitors, and the staff. Our third and most precious visits are at the castle with the kids. There are no words that can describe how these visits fill my heart. I only know that when I leave, it’s a feeling of joy to have brought a tiny bit of distraction to these families. Each visit brings an awareness of gratitude and blessings.” – Penny

To positively impact the experience of patients and their caregivers (families, friends, and staff) by providing Reiki sessions to reduce stress and promote relaxation.

Requirements: Ages 19 and up. Must be Reiki Certified and provide a copy of certification

Sanford USD Medical Center has many sewing needs. Volunteers can suggest their interest and will be connected with patterns and material that fit their preferences.

Some opportunities include:

• Surgical caps for Children undergoing surgery
• Flat bonding bear for NICU families
• Infant loss diapers, blankets, and weighted bear inserts for Labor & Delivery
• Ostomy cozies that fit around an ostomy bag and MORE!

This role supports the surgical staff by performing various tasks. These include, but are not limited to, routine housekeeping, supply management, and patient transport. Volunteers assist with OR room turnovers, cleaning and disinfecting equipment, stocking supplies, clerical duties, changing O2 Tanks, running specimens to lab, running supplies or equipment to different locations, helping lift patients, and escorting families.

Requirements: Ages 16 and up.

Do you like to interact with people and want to get some exercise at the same time? If so, this is the volunteer position for you! Surgical Tower escorts take patient's family from the surgical area to patient's rooms and they also provide clerical and messenger support to staff.

Requirements:Ages 16 and up.

“Volunteering in the Surgical Tower is a very rewarding experience. No two shifts are exactly alike. The job consists of escorting families to patient rooms after surgery as well as delivering patient’s possessions to their room. Sometimes you need to guide people to other parts of the hospital as well. After a while you get a feel for who would like to visit with you and who would not. A cart is available to haul those possessions. I don’t think a shift goes by where some hospital staff member and/or family member doesn’t thank you for coming that day.” – Ron

Do you want to make a difference and get some exercise at the same time? Volunteer escorts in the VanDemark Building welcome patients to Sanford and help alleviate the anxiety that sometimes accompanies waiting and take patients to their destination.

Requirements: Ages 16 and up.

“Greeting people with a smile, helping the staff at the registration desk by taking patients and families to the radiology department for their appointments, transporting people to or from the main hospital in the golf cart, getting a wheelchair, helping people find their way to other appointments or the proper exit, and listening are all part of the volunteer experience at the VanDemark Building/Cancer Center.” – Ron

This volunteer will help to provide a welcoming environment for veterans and families who are patients at Sanford. Duties in the Veteran’s Club Lounge may include answering phones, greeting visitors, keeping the room clean, and making sure food and beverages are available.

Requirements: Ages 16 and up.

To enhance the Lobby in greeting visitors, providing information, support and comfort to patients and their families/visitors, provide housekeeping, messenger and transport support as needed. May also assist patients and guests throughout the Sanford campus in finding a physician’s office, patient room, waiting area, lab/x-ray, exam rooms, outpatient testing area, cafeteria and many other areas. With this role, volunteers may be on their feet for 4 hours and walk 2 to 6 miles during that 4 hour period.

Requirements: Ages 16 and up.

“Opening the door, holding an umbrella, helping patients out of vehicles, getting a wheelchair, walking with a patient to the doctor's waiting area and listening are part of the volunteer experience at Imagenetics. These small acts create a sense of caring which helps the patients feel welcome.” – Elaine

The Sanford USD Medical Center Campus covers a 6X4 block area. Many customers need assistance in finding a physician’s office, patient room, outpatient testing area, cafeteria and many other areas. The Way Finding Volunteer opportunity was created to help our customers get to the area in which they are looking for. We are looking for individuals who are outgoing, friendly and can be on their feet for 4 hours and walk 2 to 6 miles during that 4-hour period.

Requirements: Ages 16 and up.

“After retiring and moving to Sioux Falls six years ago, I looked for volunteer opportunities in our new community. I contacted Sanford Health to volunteer as a baby rocker. I was told there was not an opening for a baby rocker at that time, but I could be a Wayfinder. I said I could do that, even though I really didn’t know what “that” was. Florists drop their deliveries in a central room in the hospital, and I deliver them throughout the hospital to individual patients. When not busy doing that, I help patients and visitors get to their destination in the complex, and I assist staff with various projects, as requested. Because I enjoy people, I have found that being a Wayfinder is rewarding in so many ways. It is heartwarming to witness the happiness of patients being remembered by their families and friends—patients smile and their eyes light up when I deliver flowers. Visiting with patients and visitors throughout the day brings me a lot of joy. Patients are always pleasant in spite of what they may be going through, visitors are friendly, and staff is appreciative. Being a Wayfinder has turned out to be a rewarding adventure for this volunteer.” – Jeannette

The Sanford Wellness Center has opportunities at two convenient locations – 49th & Oxbow and Tea/Ellis - for individuals who enjoy being with children ages 0-8 and help provide child care services while parents exercise at the Wellness Centers. Volunteers play with children and assist with recreational gym activities for children.

Requirements: Ages 16 and up.

The Sanford Wellness Center on 49th and Oxbow has an opportunity for volunteers to assist staff with maintaining the locker rooms. Some duties include picking up towels, emptying towel bins, and cleaning locker rooms. This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to gain experience and work on job skills. 

Requirements: Ages 16 and up.