Volunteer Opportunities at Fort Sanders Regional

A Variety of Volunteer Programs at Fort Sanders Regional

Wherever your passion lies, Fort Sanders Regional offers a variety of opportunities to help provide excellent service to our patients:

Adopt-A-Unit: A new volunteer program where our inpatient units are matched with a volunteer(s) to assist in visiting patients, stocking supplies, and helping staff with non-clinical activities.

Ask Me: Volunteers are located at the main entry points of the hospital to assist patients and visitors to their destination.

Center for Advanced Medicine Information Desk:  As our campus expands, more locations are needed to assist our patients and visitors with information and directions.

HABIT (Human-Animal Bond in Tennessee): HABIT volunteers and their pets provide animal-assisted therapy to select patient care areas.  Coordinated through the University of Tennessee’s School of Veterinary Medicine, our volunteers and their humans bring a fuzzy respite to a hospital stay.

Newborns in Need: Volunteers from this great organization deliver prepared bags of items for mothers to take home with their newborns – including homemade blankets, hats and diapers.  Our volunteers assist in the delivery of these items to our Women’s Services department.

NODA (No One Dies Alone): Volunteers act as benevolent companions to patients who find themselves without loved ones in their last moments of life.

PEER – Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Hospital: Former patients who have experienced stroke, spinal cord or brain injury, mentor and encourage current patients about life during and after their hospitalization and rehabilitation. This role includes reading to patients, assisting with letter writing, or simply providing conversation and friendly company.

PEER – Bariatric: Former bariatric patients mentor and encourage current bariatric patients on adjusting to their surgery and living a healthy lifestyle.

Random Acts of Flowers: Volunteers assist with the monthly delivery of over 125 floral arrangements from this wonderful community resource.

Stephen Ministry: Stephen ministers are non-ordained volunteers trained to provide spiritual support to patients and caregivers.  The focus of our Stephen Ministers is our long-term patients and those that lack supportive resources; however, a Stephen Minister may be assigned to a patient, family member or a hospital employee.

Student Volunteers: Our service-oriented student volunteers (18 and older) share their special gifts and energy with hospital patients and staff.  Many are planning careers in the healthcare field and see volunteering as a natural stepping stone toward their goals.

Thompson Cancer Survival Center (TCSC): Cancer survivors mentor and assist current cancer patients during their infusion visits. These volunteers also assemble baskets given to each new Thompson chemotherapy patient, which include comfort items recommended by former patients.

A History of Service

The volunteer effort at Fort Sanders Regional began in 1955 with the formation of a volunteer auxiliary, complete with elected officers and a board of directors. Governed by a set of by-laws, volunteer programs are developed to assist hospital staff in caring for patients and visitors.  Additionally, the auxiliary sponsors the hospital’s gift shop and receives all net income from sales and honors.

In fact, members of the Fort Sanders Auxiliary have donated more than 1.5 million hours of service, totaling a value of more than $21,496,649 in time and energy on the hospital’s behalf. Fundraising efforts consistently add tens of thousands of dollars each year, which help departments in our facility purchase much-needed equipment or services.