More than 300 volunteers provide vital support to Mary Greeley Medical Center, across a wide variety of adult volunteer support areas.
Art Program
Mary Greeley Medical Center boasts a wonderful collection of artwork from a variety of artists. Volunteering with our art program can include assisting with cleaning and maintenance of pieces, cataloging our inventory, and other small projects.
Skills
Interest in art, some physical activity including bending and reaching is involved with cleaning projects.
Hours
Flexible depending on the project, typically 2-3 hours per week.
Behavioral Health Music Sharing Volunteer
Are you passionate about music and its ability to uplift, connect, and heal? Join our team as a Music Sharing Volunteer in the Adult Behavioral Health Unit and help bring moments of calm, joy, and connection to adults on their journey to wellness.
As a Music Sharing Volunteer, you’ll play a vital role in our Therapeutic Recreation and Activities Groups by:
- sharing live music using instruments such as a piano, guitar, or ukulele.
- creating a soothing and engaging environment for patients.
- supporting structured group sessions under the guidance of trained staff.
- encouraging appropriate patient participation through listening or light interaction
Important Details:
This is a locked adult unit; only patients deemed appropriate by staff will participate.
All sessions are supervised by Behavioral Health professionals.
Volunteers must be comfortable in a clinical setting and follow all safety and confidentiality protocols.
Who We’re Looking For:
Volunteers who can commit to a regular schedule, for a minimum of 6 months, and work collaboratively with staff
Skills
- Musicians who play piano, guitar or ukulele - you will provide a variety of pieces for listening. Patients may request music for you to play or sing along with, so you also need skills to improvise or sightread music from a songbook provided at the Behavioral Health Unit.
- Customer service oriented, desire to work with patients, good communication skills, enthusiastic and supportive.
Hours
Flexible days and shifts, typical shifts last 1 hour
Clerical Support
Volunteer assistance with clerical projects is a great asset to Mary Greeley Medical Center. Duties can vary from answering phones, filing, copying, database entry, and more. Each position is designed to best fit the department’s needs with the volunteer’s skills. Volunteers assist in many departments throughout the medical center from Chaplaincy, Human Resources, External Relations, and much more. At the time of your interview, we will review the openings.
Skills
Computer skills (basic typing, Microsoft Office, database experience, internet) preferred, telephone etiquette, customer service, previous clerical experience is a plus.
Hours
Flexible, typical shifts are 2-4 hours between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday- Friday.
Emergency Department
Emergency Department Volunteers assist with a variety of tasks depending on the traffic flow on any given day or hour. They may help to greet guests, stock supplies, sit with patients, run errands throughout the medical center, and more. These positions are great for pre-health students as well as anyone willing to be flexible and enjoys working with people.
Skills
Telephone etiquette, customer service, flexibility.
Hours
9 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday- Saturday (over night hours available as well).
Gift Shop
The Gift Shop of Mary Greeley Medical Center is a time-honored tradition for shoppers and volunteers alike. Volunteers help by greeting and assisting guests, assisting with gift wrapping, or helping with floor presentation.
Skills
Customer service and flexibility to helping with varying needs of the shop.
Hours
Variable
Hospice
Volunteering with hospice can include a variety of opportunities. Once volunteers complete the required training (14 hours), they may choose which area(s) to support: visiting patients in the home setting, clerical support, helping at the Israel Family Hospice House by greeting guests and answering phones, assisting with the bereavement program, helping with holiday meals and more.
Skills
Desire to work with hospice patients, compassion, flexibility.
Hours
Varied for patient support opportunities. Israel Family Hospice House shifts are 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 1-5 p.m., 5-9 p.m., Sunday - Saturday.
Intensive & Coronary Care Unit (ICCU) Desk
Duties include greeting guests; directing visitors and families to other areas; and serving as a check point for patient visits. Main contact is with family members and staff. Volumes vary with this assignment so it is great for those volunteers willing to help with clerical work or volunteers may read. Volunteer students often are able to study when volumes are not high.
Skills
Telephone etiquette, customer service.
Hours
9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 12:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Monday Friday. Evening and weekend hours may be added to accommodate volunteer schedules.
Meals on Wheels
Volunteers for Meals on Wheels help by delivering meals to Ames residents over the lunch hour. Typical routes include 5-10 stops that are arranged as much as possible by geographic location. First volunteers stop at MGMC to pick up the meals in carriers and the route information, deliver the meals, and then return carriers to Heartland Senior Services.
Skills
Customer service, volunteers provide their own transportation.
Hours
Typically shifts last 1-1.5 hours, Monday – Friday. Meals are picked up at Mary Greeley at 10:45 a.m. There are not shifts on weekends or holidays.
Medical Unit Support
Most popular with pre-health (pre-medicine, pre-nursing, etc.) students, this volunteer position provides a great service for patients and staff. Volunteers assist the units by stocking supplies, light clerical work, or running errands throughout MGMC. Once these responsibilities are completed, volunteers may sit with patients who would benefit from socialization.
Skills
Customer service, desire to work with patients, flexibility.
Hours
Open shifts are a minimum of 2-3 hours, Monday – Friday.
North Addition Information Desk
Duties include greeting guests; handing out maps, providing directions and some light clerical work. Main contact is with patients coming to the Radiation Oncology Department, some family members, and staff. Visitors and inquiry volumes can vary on any given day. This assignment is great for those volunteers wanting to help who can also keep themselves busy with clerical work or reading at times. Volunteers at this desk work in tandem with a staff transporter.
Skills
Computer skills (Microsoft Outlook and internet) preferred, telephone etiquette, customer service.
Hours
8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday Friday.
Patient Safety Volunteer
This program utilizes trained volunteers for the enhancement of a safe environment for high risk fall patients through the inspection of the patient’s environment, monitoring of staff compliance with fall prevention protocol, and reminding the patient of their role in fall prevention. The role of the volunteer is to visit patients who have been designated at risk for fall and document on a spreadsheet compliance with fall protocol.
Skills
Customer service, desire to work with patients and families.
Hours
Two to three hour shifts available 1:00 – 7:00 p.m., 7 days a week.
Pet Therapy
The Pet Therapy program is a way to have patients interact with dogs while they are patients on a variety of units. Volunteers in this program include the owner and their dog.
Skills
Customer service, desire to work with patients, participating dogs must be TDI (Therapy Dogs International) certified.
Hours
Varied, typical shifts last 1-2 hours.
Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) Counselor
SHIIP counselors take responsibility for providing individualized Medicare counseling through the Story County SHIIP program. Counseling sessions are offered at MGMC or other Story County locations. SHIIP counselors are required to attend quarterly update meetings (three required – two must be on location, one can be a video review) through SHIIP and attend SHIIP sponsored meetings, as requested and must be knowledgeable in the following areas: Medicare reimbursements, Medigap insurance and long-term care insurance.
Skills
Customer service, computer skills (internet), willingness to attend regular update sessions
Hours
9 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday, 3 hour shifts available
Sterile Processing Department (SPD) Support
This volunteer position will assist the Sterile Processing Staff with duties which will include folding towels and other linens for the SPD staff to wrap and sterilize. Answer the phone as requested. Remove filters from sterilization pans to assist with work flow in SPD.
Skills
Telephone etiquette, willingness to help however needed
Hours
2 to 3 hour shifts available 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday
Surgery Family Waiting Room Desk
Duties include greeting guests, assisting families with needs, tracking families and guests for eventual physician consultations, and answering phones. Main contact is with family members, physicians, and staff.
Skills
Customer service, telephone etiquette.
Hours
8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. & 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Monday Friday.
Surgical Unit Family Escort
Duties include escorting families and friends of surgical patients to the patient’s room. Along the way, volunteers will orient them to the medical center and give a brief introduction to the patient room.
Skills
Customer service, desire to work with patient’s family and friends, ability to walk for extended periods.
Hours
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 12 to 3 p.m., Monday – Friday.
West Information Desk
This volunteer is the first person to greet many patients and visitors to the medical center. It requires very good customer service. Volunteers direct visitors to patient rooms and other areas of the medical center, and answer a multitude of questions. Main contact is between patients and visitors.
Skills
Computer skills (Microsoft Outlook), telephone etiquette, customer service.
Hours
10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. & 1:30 – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday
