Volunteer Opportunities

More than 200 adults and young people in Houston County give thousands of hours of their free time annually to serve the patients and staff of Houston Healthcare as volunteers through the Auxiliaries. They work in almost every area of Houston Medical Center and Perry Hospital, performing any number of tasks from working the information desks to filing records, operating the gift shops and delivering mail to patient rooms.

This dynamic group of Auxilians is also dedicated to the health care of their community. Each year, they donate money raised through the gift shops and other fundraising activities back to Houston Medical Center and Perry Hospital to purchase items that benefit patient care and enhance the overall patient experience. Some of their previous donations have included renovations of the Front Lobby and ICU Waiting Room at Perry Hospital, as well as the Family Waiting Room at Houston Medical Center, pediatric resuscitation kits for Houston Healthcare’s ambulances, new patient wheelchairs, and a “Healing Garden” at Perry Hospital. In addition, the Auxilians have donated more than $110,000 to the Houston County Volunteer Medical Clinic, helping the working uninsured citizens of Houston County gain access to non-emergency primary medical care.

Gift Shops

• The Gift Connection at Houston Medical Center
• Pink Bowtique at Perry Hospital

Chaplaincy Program

The Chaplaincy Program is also coordinated through Houston Healthcare’s Volunteer Services Department. These Chaplains give their time and talents to the patients and family members of Houston Medical Center and Perry Hospital. The Chaplains are also available for all staff members and physicians. To request the services of a Chaplain at Houston Medical Center, please call (478) 922-4281, and at Perry Hospital, call (478) 987-3600.

Volunteen Program

During the summer months, a group of young teens to early adults volunteer their time while learning about different aspects of healthcare by serving as part of Houston Healthcare’s Volunteen Program. Once referred to as “candy stripers,” the teen volunteers serve approximately 1,500 hours shadowing health care professionals at Houston Medical Center and Perry Hospital in various areas, such as Radiology, IV Therapy, Respiratory, Outpatient Surgery, and Patient Transport.

The Volunteen program is designed to provide students ages 14 and older an exciting opportunity to see and be a part of the health care team in action. The students are able to work with health care professionals whose mission is to provide help and care to others. They also have the opportunity to learn about the healthcare setting while gaining real life experience into the different roles that are involved in patient care. By volunteering in the hospital setting, the students will hopefully be encouraged to pursue a career in the healthcare field. In fact, a number of our former Volunteens are now employees of Houston Healthcare and several others are currently attending medical school.

Applicants are interviewed and selected based on their grade point average, extracurricular activities and their interest in a health care field, as well as their willingness to serve at least one four-hour shift each week during the six week program. The majority of our Volunteens’ service is performed during the summer months; however, a few continue to serve in a limited capacity during the school year.