Redwood Memorial Hospital has a very dynamic volunteer program comprised of many individuals of all ages. Our dedicated volunteers serve in several areas of the hospital and in the community as well.

Depending on individual interests, some of our volunteers work directly with patients while others provide invaluable assistance in hospital support areas or in one of our physician practices or community collaborative programs. Each year the volunteers raise thousands of dollars through various fundraising activities which include bake sales, raffles, rummage sales, book sales, and jewelry sales, to name just a few! All proceeds benefit patient care and scholarships for students seeking future careers in health care.

How to Join Our Volunteer Team

We do request a minimum commitment of six months of service annually. Most volunteers sign up for one or more three and one half hour shifts per week, with their minimum commitment complete after a period of approximately six months.
Call (707) 725-3361 ext. 4505 for more details. Click here for a volunteer application.

Redwood Memorial Hospital Volunteer Opportunities Most volunteers select a three and one half hour shift one day per week and serve in the following areas:

Information Desk
Situated in the hospital lobby, these volunteers provide general information and directions to all hospital visitors.

Floor Duty
These volunteers provide Patient Care by supporting the Nursing and Nutrition Services staffs in the following ways: helping patients complete menus, providing patients with nourishments, delivering patient flowers, cards, etc., delivering doctors orders, lab specimens, pharmacy requests and charts to departments as needed, processing mailings, and completing special projects.

Gift Shop
These volunteers are responsible for the retail sales of this shop. They handle payment transactions, wrap gifts, and prepare window displays.

Departmental support throughout the hospital
Volunteers provide non-clinical, administrative support to Radiology, Dietary, Administration, Medical Records, Patient Billing, Purchasing, and the Rio Dell Community Resource Center. Additionally, volunteers knit baby caps for each newborn and sew abdominal pillows for surgery patients.

Hands of Hope volunteers
These volunteers are part of our Journey's Healing Arts program to minister to the patient's physical, emotional and spiritual needs. They include:

• Massage Therapists help reduce stress in pre-operative patients with 20-minute massages immediately prior to surgery.
• Musicians visit post-operative patients in their rooms, providing soothing music that supports the healing process.
• Pet Partners visit post-operative patients with certified animals that help reduce stress.
• Art Volunteers help post-operative patients create many wonderful works of art including masks, clay sculptures and mosaic tiles.
• Sr. Alma Family Resource Center volunteers help the community access web-based health information.
• Family Ambassadors act as liaisons between surgeons and the families waiting for their loved ones.

Spiritual Health Services Volunteer Chaplains
These volunteers provide non-denominational support to patients as requested. After completing an in-depth eight week course that prepares them for the position of Chaplain, they select a two hour block of time one day a week to visit with patients. These volunteers are trained to support patients and families through the grief process and to provide active listening, emotional, and spiritual support.

Community programs our volunteers support include:

• Ongoing fund raising events to improve patient care services at Redwood Memorial Hospital
• Hospital-wide tours for school children throughout the Eel River Valley

Volunteers support the efforts of staff who provide tours for pre-school and K-1 students from throughout the community. More than 300 students receive these hospital tours every year.

Vial of Life Community Program
A volunteer committee ensures that vials are placed throughout the community in convenient locations and that they remain adequately stocked. These vials include a Health Information form which could save valuable time for paramedics trying to determine a patient's prior medical history (including allergies and medications).

Baby Track Immunization Program
Volunteers track the immunization history of infants born at Redwood Memorial Hospital and in a program sponsored by the Public Health Department, encourage new parents to keep the immunizations current. Redwood Memorial Hospital has the longest running program in Humboldt County.

Student Volunteers (high school students, aged 14-18)
Community high school students are given opportunities to support various departments throughout the hospital.The requested commitment is one afternoon per week (a two hour shift) through the academic year. They receive community service hours towards high school graduation requirements for the service they provide.