Volunteer Services

Volunteer Opportunities

Greeters

As welcome ambassadors to the hospital, volunteers are placed in high traffic areas to greet visitors and to escort patients and families to appointments throughout the hospital. Greeters assist BID Needham Patient Access and Registration staff to facilitate an efficient waiting area at the main entrance to the hospital, as well as other departments.

Volunteer Visitor Program

A select group of volunteers are trained and assigned to visit with patients in the Derenzo Inpatient Care Unit, Emergency Department, and the Endoscopy and Infusion Center for short periods of time to provide conversation, companionship, and appropriate non-clinical mind-body activities.

Escorts

Volunteers work to assist medical staff with non-clinical duties. As part of a team of volunteers during a designated three hour shift, individuals are responsible for a variety of non-clinical assignments such as transporting patients discharged from day surgery or the inpatient units, executing laboratory specimen runs, transferring patients to radiology and other departments, escorting patients to medical appointments, providing directions, and an assortment of non-patient related duties and errands.

The Gift Box

Volunteers are responsible for the day-to-day operations in the hospital gift shop, The Gift Box. Prior retail sales experience is not required. Volunteers interact with a wide variety of customers including hospital staff, patients, and families as well as visitors from the local communities.

Mail Room

Volunteers are responsible for sorting all incoming mail to mail boxes in the central mail room. In addition, the mail room volunteer delivers mail to hospital departments located in the main hospital at 148 Chestnut Street.

The Trotman Family Glover Café Attendant

Volunteers are responsible for assisting BID Needham dietary staff in facilitating a smooth daily lunch preparation and service to guests of The Trotman Family Glover Café. Volunteers are needed from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.

Student Volunteer

During the school year, student volunteers are assigned to a variety of duties similar to the responsibilities described above. Students volunteer Monday through Friday from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM once a week. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age.

The Summer Student Volunteer program runs for approximately six week during July and August. Applications for the summer program are accepted in the late winter.

The benefits of being a volunteer are many, and they include:

• Volunteering provides a positive outlet for helping others and is a terrific way to stay connected to your community;
• BID Needham is a great place to make new friends and have new experiences in an environment filled with camaraderie and respect;
• A free lunch in The Trotman Family Glover Café (with a monetary limit);
• Free parking during volunteer hours;
• Invitation to our Annual Volunteer Recognition Reception;
• Reference letters to enhance college or work applications;
• Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-esteem and life satisfaction.

More than 100 volunteers currently donate an astonishing amount of service hours to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Needham.

If you are interested in joining our team, please fill out and return our volunteer application. If you would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities or to schedule an interview, please contact Volunteer Services at 781-453-5499.

How to Represent BID Needham in the Community

Consider joining the BID Needham Street Team. In addition to customary volunteer opportunities at the hospital, BID Needham offers ambassador roles within the community. We proudly partner with and/or support more than 60 community and non-profit organizations within our service areas. With these partnerships, BID Needham has been able to expand presence and outreach within the community.

In 2017, the BID Needham Street Team was founded to help with these efforts. This team of individuals consists of employees, board members, and local students (6^th to 12^th grade) who are interested in volunteering to increase the profile of the hospital and give back to the community. We have a strong presence in the spring and fall with many weekend opportunities. Some volunteer opportunities include community presence at:

• Street Fairs
• Road Races
• Charity Walks
• Other Community Events

Get Involved

If you are interested in joining the BID Needham Street Team and unable to attend the annual orientation, please email Suzanne Baker or call 781-453-4506 to learn more about our upcoming community events.