Boiler Volunteer Network

Health

The majority of the information on this page came from the Volunteer Opportunities at-a-Glance booklet put out by the United Way of Greater Lafayette Volunteer Center . If you would like to be included in our catalog, email us at bvn@purdue.edu or call us at (765) 496-2450. For bus schedules, go to the gocitybus.com site.

Health Services

American Red Cross
615 N 18th St., Lafayette, IN 47904
765.742-6975
amy@lafayetteredcross.org
The American Red Cross needs instructors for health & safety classes. Teach fourth graders basic first aid procedures for poisoning, bleeding, burns, shock and other emergencies. Training is provided.
Save a life, learn CPR. Train to teach CPR classes to the community. Must be 17 years or older and training will be provided.
Disasters occur more frequently than we'd like, so be be prepared in the time of need. Volunteer for the Red Cross Disaster Services team. There are over fifteen different jobs to do. Find one that matches your skills.
Got some spare time? The office is the backbone of the organization. Help with clerical work, answer telephones, help with mailings, etc. There is a need for volunteers for the Armed Forces Emergency Services. Carry a beeper and handle emergencies between the military and their families. Training is provided.

Area IV Agency on Aging
660 N. 36th St., Lafayette, IN 47905 - 765.447.7683
mailto:jworland@areaivagency.org
Get on the open road and make a difference in someone's life. Help escort elderly/disabled citizens to and from their medical appointments and other essential errands such as medication pick-up and grocery shopping, etc. Hours are flexible.

Breast Cancer Today
1385 Kingswood Rd., West Lafayette, IN 47906 - 765.743.6485
Help present information of breast cancer awareness and help teach good breast health to groups. Cancer survivors and professionals are preferred.

Caregiver Companion
612 Wabash Ave., Lafayette, IN 47905 - 765.423.1879
email: caregiver95@gmail.com
Do you have a soothing nature? Volunteer to help a primary caregiver with simple tasks. Visit with them while their loved ones take a much needed break. Help with grocery shopping, light housekeeping, simple repairs, laundry, etc. You'll see how you can change someone's life.

Community Cancer Network
2nd Floor of old Arnett Building - Greenbush St., Lafayette, IN 47903 - 765.446.5464
Community Cancer Network is a non-profit dedicated to  help meet the NON-medical needs of cancer patients. Volunteering for us
would include transportation of clients to and from their medical  appointments, helping with fundraising events, running food drives, food  pantry shopping, & specialized events.  For example, our major annual fundraising event is coming up in September at Purdue called "Carry the Torch" and there are several ways to volunteer for that! For more information about what we do, you can go to our website at communitycancernetwork.org and read all about us!

Guardian Angel Hospice
Volunteers needed for visiting patients on a weekly basis. Times and days are flexible. Volunteers do not do any personal care or give medications, mostly friendly visiting or sitting with a patient while their caregiver is away. Looking for a one hour per week time commitment or more. A background check will be counducted as well as a yearly TB test. We provide training. Our Lafayette office is located at 1221 Creasy Lane. Contact Ocean Sharp at osharp@gahospice.com or 1-800-338-4043 or 765-210-9586.

Indiana Blood Center
2200 Elmwood Ave. Suite D-16, Lafayette, IN 47904 - 765-446-4216
Volunteer opportunities include sponsoring a blood drive with your group or organization. The Indiana Blood Center is the primary supplier of blood to over 65 Indiana hospitals. We rely on volunteer blood donations to keep the supply of blood constant to Indiana hospitals. Call to set up a blood drive and you'll have someone's undying gratitude.

IU Health Arnett Hospital
C.R. 500 East and McCarty Lane, Lafayette, IN 47903 - (765)448-8000
Volunteers needed on an on-going basis to help us provide excellent customer service to patients and visitors. You can greet patients as they enter the hospital or other waiting areas. You can assist patients and visitors on where they need to go. You can read a book to children in a waiting room. You can chat with patients while serving them coffee or tea. You can help deliver flowers or mail to patients' rooms. Volunteers must attend an orientation and a minimum 36 hours commitment (per semester) consisting of one 3-4 hour time frame one time a week.

Mental Health America of Tippecanoe County
914 South St., Lafayette, IN 47901 - 765.742.1800
Do you love people? Would you like to make a difference in a life? Do you have one hour each week to be a friend to someone recovering from a mental illness? Friend go to free or low-cost activities together, while building friendship. Training and support is provided.

Riggs Community Health Center
1716 Hartford St., Lafayette, IN 47904
765.742-1567
email: stephaniep@riggshealth.com
Help with client interaction and clerical work such as filing and maintaining medical records, and answering telephones.

St. Elizabeth Hospice
1415 Salem St. Suite #202 W, Lafayette, IN 47904 - 765.423.6924
Provide respite for caregivers, emotional support, a listening ear and companionship to hospice patients and their families. Tasks also include assisting with shopping, yard work or household chores. Training is provided. Volunteers must be 21 or older.

Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health

1701 S. Creasy Lane, Lafayette, IN 47905 - 765.502.4000
Volunteers have the opportunity to serve in both patient and non-patient care areas. You can help with sewing, flower arrangement, craft groups, the gift cart, hospital tours, the recycling program, or as a host in the waiting room. Volunteers are needed in the surgery and intensive care waiting rooms to provide information and assist patients' family members and friends. College age and teen volunteers are required to make a 12-week per semester commitment, taking one 3-4 hour shift at the same time each week.

Therapeion Therapeutic Riding Center
11030 South 200 West, Brookston, IN 47923
(765) 414-8066
email: therapeion@yahoo.com
Volunteers can help provide equine assisted therapy to children with disabilities, at-risk youth, and children dealing with mental health issues. Volunteers will work directly with the children during classes, acting as the horse handler. They may also groom and exercise the horses; perform barn chores; help with landscaping and gardening; serve on committees; and plan and/help with special events. Training is provided. No previous experience is required. Groups are welcomed. All volunteers working directly with children must be at least 18 years old.

Serenity Hospice

Volunteers are the backbone of hospice service and have been so since their creation. In fact, early hospice programs were all volunteers, and that spirit has continued in all hospices today. Volunteers provide help and services to others and volunteering also provides help to you. The steps to becoming a volunteer, as well as some ongoing efforts by Serenity, are outlined below.

Services that hospice volunteers provide to others:

• Provide companionship to patients and respite care for caregivers by visiting patients and their families, reading, running errands, providing bereavement support, and assisting with memorial support. (Visits may be at a hospital, nursing home, private residence or assisted living.)
• Provide community support by working at fund raisers, health fairs, or other community-based events.
• Provide professional support to individuals who provide specialized services for patients and families, such as lawyers, teachers, and beauticians.
• Provide support for the non-patient based hospice efforts (e.g., making handouts, filing, record keeping or tasks as assigned.)

Experience/Skills:

• Experience in the health care industry, networking with other workers, and/or service skills specific to hospice and end of life situations is preferred.

Local Heroes Needed!

Serenity Hospice is always looking for volunteers, as needs are continuously growing. We have several projects and services underway that are in need of specialized support. If you feel you could help with any of these services, please call 765-446-9100. 

• Vet2Vet services - Veterans helping other veterans.
• We Honor Veterans - Recognition and honor for those who served their country.
• Final Vigils - Providing additional support for the final moments.
• Specialized Support - skilled tasks.

Training is necessary to become a volunteer. Hospice volunteer training typically includes 20 hours of training. Training usually takes place at the Serenity Offices, but groups can be taught anywhere.

The time a volunteer spends at Serenity is dependent upon their schedule and the needs of patients or families. Often a volunteer will visit the same patient on a weekly basis, with others covering times the volunteer has other things scheduled. Please call 765-446-9100 to request additional information or email to Michael.Budzynski@TrilogyHS.com.