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6 Ways to Become a Volunteer

During National Volunteer Month, connect with opportunities at Duke and in the Triangle

By April Dudash

Before Karen McClure starts her Tuesday workdays, she prepares coffee, helps visiting families do laundry, and listens to caregivers tell their stories in the Ronald McDonald Family Room on Duke Hospital’s fifth floor.

McClure, a special programs director for Duke Children’s Office of Development, has volunteered for nearly three years in the family room, which provides a place for families with pediatric patients to regroup at the hospital. When McClure originally considered volunteering, she thought she would have to wait until retirement.

“It’s an important part of every single week for me,” said McClure, who has worked at Duke for 26 years. “I’m getting to know a different family or several families every week that I’m there. I saw an opportunity to connect personally with our cause and our mission at Duke Health.”

Looking for a way to give back during National Volunteer Month in April? Here are some ways to provide your time and talents on campus and in the Triangle:

Help patients and families at Duke Hospital

Merle "Sunny" Best volunteers in the Duke Cancer Center's Patient Resource Center. Photo courtesy of Volunteer Services

Duke Health Volunteer Services has about 30 volunteer programs to choose from, to include manning the hospital’s information desks and swaddling newborns at the Duke Birthing Center.

Discover the needs of local nonprofits

Volunteers hold potatoes at the 2015 Duke Potato Drop, a service day to bag 40,000 pounds of potatoes for distribution to Triangle food relief agencies. Photo courtesy of the Duke Office of Durham and Regional Affairs

The Duke Office of Durham and Regional Affairs keeps an ongoing list of community volunteer needs, posted by nonprofits such as the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Carrboro Recreation and Parks Department, and the American Red Cross of Central North Carolina.

Use your green thumb at Duke Gardens

Duke biology professor emeritus Boyd Strain volunteers at Sarah P. Duke Gardens. Photo courtesy of Duke Gardens

Volunteers at Duke Gardens contribute by planting flowers, taking photos, giving tours and more. Volunteers also get gardens perks such as event invitations and discounts to classes and the Terrace Shop. Those interested can fill out the online volunteer application.

Give back as a Duke alumnus

Alumni volunteers are recognized at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium during a homecoming football game. Photo courtesy of Duke Photography

The Duke Alumni Association provides opportunities for alumni to volunteer on campus or help organize alumni events around the world. Duke alumni can help plan programs or reunions in their area, interview prospective Duke students, read student writing assignments, or volunteer within a particular Duke school. The association is also holding “Duke Alums Engage” events through May, which connect alumni to community service projects in their cities.

Pitch in during campus farm workdays

Volunteers pull up weeds at Duke Campus Farm. Photo courtesy of Bill Snead

Duke Campus Farm brings together volunteers on Sundays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. to help with weeding, planting and harvesting. All community members are welcome to serve as volunteers at the site, located at 4934 Friends School Road in Durham.

Connect with nature in Duke Forest

Volunteers pitch in at Duke Forest. Photo courtesy of Duke Forest

Volunteers at Duke Forest help with tree damage mitigation, invasive plant removal and upkeep of trails. Sign up to receive Duke Forest emails about upcoming volunteer days, and Duke Forest provides work gloves, tools, snacks and water.

Duke employees looking to volunteer at Duke must receive prior approval from their supervisor. Read more about Duke’s volunteer policy guidelines here.