Volunteer At McLaren Flint

Volunteers enhance our daily lives and the lives of our patients. They are vital and valued at McLaren Flint.

Today's volunteer has changed. Individuals from all walks of life - college students, retirees, seniors, as well as former and current career-oriented people - are donating their time and energy to experiencing the rewards of volunteering. Volunteer candidates must be at least 18 years old to apply.

What's on this page

Benefits of Volunteering

  • Making a difference in someone's stay
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Variety of assignments
  • Helping people
  • Camaraderie
  • Develop/enhance new skills
McLaren Flint operates during traditional business hours and beyond. Our volunteer services program provides volunteers with the opportunity to give meaningful service, to experience skill development, career exploration and personal growth. We will work with your schedule to find a project that is rewarding for you.

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Patient care - Mobile Gift Cart, Escort, Patient Relations, Karmanos Cancer Institute
  • Non-patient - Greeter, Comfort Sewer, Hospitality House, Gift Shop, Medical Library
  • Leadership roles - Accounting, Computer Skills, Overseeing vendor sales, Working retail
  • Administrative roles - Gift Shop Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, Board Positions

Volunteer Service Descriptions

Questions: Call the Auxiliary Office at 810-342-2009

SERVICE TITLE

LOCATION

INFORMATION

ANNIES

Hospitality House Craft Rm-lower level

Hours: 11:30 am to 3:00 pm, first Tuesday of each month

Crochet, knitting, sewing, painting, artwork

 

Volunteers make arts and crafts items to sell in the gift shop and mobile cart. A bake sale and bazaar are held the first Friday in May and the first Thursday and Friday in November each year.

COMFORT SEWERS

Dining Room 1

Ground floor North

Hours: 9:30 am-11:30 am every Friday

Sewing

*Tidbit: Sewers were the first volunteers starting in 1919 who furnished linens, curtains, surgical clothes, and diapers for the first small hospital for women and children.

 

Volunteers make pillows, walker caddies, chemo hats, animals, and fleece blankets as well as some baby items. Much of the sewing is done at home. Workers are credited for hours they work at home.

CRITICAL CARE UNITS

4-Central

Hours: vary Monday-Friday

Good vision, standing, reaching, walking

2-Central

5-South ICU

6-South CCU

Volunteers check expiration dates of medical supplies in supply rooms. Any expired items are removed.

FOOD AND NUTRITION

Ground Floor North

Hours: Monday-Friday, 10:00 am-2:00 pm

Standing, walking, bending

 

Volunteers assist with filling condiments, wipe off tables, break down trays and other tasks as needed

GIFT SHOP

SPECIAL THINGS GIFT SHOP

Main Lobby

Hours: days vary - two shifts available

10:00 am-2:00 pm and 2:00 pm-6:00 pm

Must be able to stand for long periods of time; some bending and lifting. Basic computer skills helpful.

 

Volunteers wait on customers, sell merchandise, operate the cash register, and process credit card purchases. They also replace stock as needed.

GIFT SHOP MOBILE GIFT CART

Various Patient Floors

Hours: vary 10:00 am-2:00 pm

Monday - Friday

Must be able to walk distances and navigate halls with a cart.

 

One or two volunteers sell merchandise to patients and McLaren employees from the Gift Shop mobile cart.

GREETER

Main Lobby

Hours: 7:00 am-11:00 am,

11:00 am-3:00 pm, and 3:00 pm-7:00 pm

Must be able to walk when needed and know how to give directions to various locations. 

 

Volunteers welcome patients and visitors upon arrival. Along with an employee, they provide basic assistance in directing and sometimes escorting individuals to their destination within the Medical Center

HEART AND VASCULAR

2-North

Hours: Monday-Friday, 2 shifts available

8:00 am-12:00 pm and 12:00 pm-4:00 pm

Some clerical work is required. Offering comfort to patients and family members is helpful.

 

Hours: 8:00 am-12:00 pm and 12:00 pm-4:00 pm

Volunteers assist with registration of patients, visit and comfort patients/families and help the staff as needed. 

HOSPITALITY HOUSE AT MCLAREN FLINT

G-3170 Beecher Rd. Flint, MI 48532

Hours: 9:00 am-1:00 pm and 1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Computer skills are helpful

Some physical labor

 

Volunteers greet guests, answer phones, use a computer, assist guests and visitors, and perform  housekeeping duties.

INFORMATION DESK

Front desk in Main Lobby

Hours: Monday-Friday, Two shifts

9:00 am -1:30 pm and 1:30-5:30 pm

Computer skills helpful

Volunteers assist the McLaren employee in directing patients and visitors to their destination.

INFUSION LAB

3 North

Hours: Upon request from lab

Must be able to walk where needed

 

 

Volunteers greet patients in the main lobby and escort them to and from their treatment.

KARMANOS CANCER INSTITUTE & PROTON THERAPY

4100 Beecher Rd. Flint, MI 48532

Hours: Monday-Friday – Hours are flexible Morning or afternoon shifts

 

 

Volunteers help the staff as requested; stock supplies at the coffee station; serve soft drinks; supply pillows and blankets to patients receiving treatments; and visit with patients and visitors, attempting to make them as comfortable as possible.

MEDICAL LIBRARY

3 North

Hours: vary for a 4-hour shift

Some light lifting and reaching/bending

 

Volunteers photocopy journal articles or the table of contents requested by doctors/staff. Other duties are placing journals in catalogued shelves, filing, mailing, and assisting staff as needed.

PATIENT EXPERIENCE

Patient Rooms

Hours: flexible Monday-Friday

A desire to hear patient concerns.

 

The Volunteer provides social and emotional support to patients and families while enhancing the satisfaction of the patients and family members. He or she works with the Chaplain/Administrative Liaison and Medical Center Nurse Managers.

PATIENT SERVICES (ESCORT)

1-Central

Hours: Monday-Friday, two shifts available 7:00 -11:00 am and  8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Must have a good sense of direction and be able to walk most of the shift.

 

Volunteers escort patients to various departments for their procedures.

PRE-ADMISSION TESTING

1-Central

Hours: Monday-Tuesday-Thursday

9:00 am -1:00 pm

 

Volunteers put together surgical packets, photocopy papers, file, prepare envelopes for mailing and perform other duties as required.

QUALITY MANAGEMENT INFECTION CONTROL

1 Central

Hours: Tuesday or Wednesday 10:00 am- 2:00 pm or 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

 

Volunteer duties include filing, mailing, copying, laminating, and small office tasks as needed.

RADIOLOGY

2-North

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 1:30 pm

Must be able to walk where needed

 

The volunteer will greet, inform, and communicate with patients in the waiting room and staging area.

SERVICE SUBSTITUTE

Location varies

Hours: As needed

 

 

SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS

As requested in various locations

Schedule is built from vendor sales  dates and dates of special events in 4-hour shifts.

*Tidbit: There are many off-site opportunities including working at the Ally Challenge, the McLaren Golf Classic, Girls Night In and in facilities outside the main hospital.

 

Assist with special mailings and work with the staff as requested for special activities that are sponsored by McLaren Flint. Complete Employee Payroll Deduction Forms at vendor sales.

DAYS AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. (Updated 7/1/2023).

Requirements

  • Once your completed application, background check, and references have been received, you will be contacted to schedule an interview.
  • During the interview, the Director of Volunteers will discuss your motivation for volunteering, your past volunteer and work experience, and your areas of interest for volunteer service.
  • All volunteers must attend orientation, and prior to placement in a service area, provide documentation of a negative TB test within the past 12 months or receive a TB test and follow-up provided by the hospital.
  • All volunteers must provide documentation for COVID-19 immunization or provide appropriate waiver documentation. The annual flu vaccine is not required but is encouraged.
  • All volunteers will receive training for their specific service area.
  • All volunteers will respect the need for safety, infection control, and patient confidentiality.
  • Volunteers must purchase a jacket worn as the uniform.
  • Annual Auxiliary dues are $10

How To Apply

The goal of the McLaren Flint Auxiliary is to recruit and retain volunteers who are dedicated, motivated, and committed to our values and mission. The following is the process that each interested candidate should follow:

Complete Online Application Form

To request a hard copy application, please call 810-342-2009

History of The McLaren Flint Auxiliary

Women's Hospital 1920

The first Auxiliary was founded on February 3, 1919, for a five-bed hospital located at 808 Harrison Street and named Elliot Girard Hospital after Dr. Lucy Elliot and nurse Lillian Girard. A few ladies with the desire to offer their time, services, and resources, decided to form an Auxiliary to help the hospital by sewing and providing bed linens. These linens were sewn at the ladies’ homes. In 1922 a property was purchased at 1900 Lapeer Street and the home was renovated to become the second hospital, known as the Women’s Hospital. It opened in 1923 with 28 adult beds, 9 children’s beds, and 19 cribs. The Women’s Hospital Auxiliary membership grew to 200.

In 1924 Ms. Margaret McLaren, R.N., became Superintendent. As the needs for the Women’s Hospital grew, the Women’s Hospital Auxiliary began fundraising activities including bake sales, rummage sales, card parties, and elaborate charity balls.

In 1940 the Auxiliary started a building fund to contribute to a new and larger hospital.

In 1951 the new building at 401 Ballenger Hwy was completed. It was named for Ms. Margaret McLaren, who credited the Auxiliary for the hospital’s growth.

Through the more than 100 years that the hospital has existed, volunteers have raised millions of dollars for hospital projects and equipment. With commitment, integrity, endurance, heartfelt compassion, and thousands of volunteer hours, the McLaren Auxilians continue to share their skills, kindness, inspiration, and charity while serving our community.

Tidbits:

Starting in 1952 until 1980, the Auxiliary members organized elaborate charity balls that were attended by doctors and business owners. The annual charity ball was the highlight of the year and had a theme such as the “Cotillion of Color”. They were held at the Durant Hotel and included a formal dinner/dance with a live band and after parties. The Flint Journal featured many articles about the progress of the planning committees as well as the event itself.

Over the years, the Auxiliary celebrated several anniversaries, the 40th, 50th, 60th to name a few. The 95th in 2013, included displays, a luncheon, a historical video, music, and a time to honor those who passed before us. These markers remind us of the many hours and accomplishments the auxilians have contributed in service to McLaren Flint.

Social functions are an excellent way to interact with fellow volunteers and employees. The Auxiliary holds 2-4 luncheons a year usually in March, June, September, and December. In September, new officers are installed and in December volunteers receive award pins for their service hours accumulated for the year. Also, volunteers join with hospital employees for trivia night, euchre tournaments, the staff holiday luncheon, and the chili cook-off to name a few.