Volunteer or donate

As a VA volunteer, you’ll support Veterans in your area, meet interesting people, and gain valuable experience in a health care setting.

You’ll also enjoy benefits like: 

• Free canteen meals during shifts of four or more hours
• Free parking at your volunteer facility
• Annual volunteer recognition awards
• Free annual flu shot
• Job skills development

Whatever your interests, we have volunteer opportunities that are right for you.

In order for us to help provide you with the best volunteer experience, CDCE will coordinate placement in an area that is compatible for you from the volunteer opportunity list. 

Please be aware that all areas do not accept volunteers.

Some of our volunteer opportunities may include:

• Greeters/ambassadors
• Information desk
• Coffee cart
• Clerical support
• Social work services
• Virtual opportunities
• Compassionate contact corps
• Recreational Activities
• Volunteer transportation network (VTN)
• Homeless program
• Special events
• Hospice

Other assignments not listed here may also be available. If you’re interested in volunteering, or if you have special skills to offer, please contact us so we can discuss how you can best help our Veterans. 

While some volunteer assignments must be performed at specific times, most are flexible and can fit your schedule. We also have special short-term projects.

Help pick-up outpatients receiving treatments or therapy and other outpatient appointments. To fill this role, you must have a current, valid Texas driver’s license and automobile insurance and pass a physical exam. We are looking for volunteer drivers for: Fort Worth and surrounding cities within Tarrant County.

Learn more about volunteer transportation network services.

Our summer youth volunteer program for students 16 – 18 years of age have an opportunity to volunteer during the months of June through August with application acceptance in May. 

This program has been temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Upon your questionnaire being accepted, potential volunteers must be pre-screened with staff prior to orientation. Please note that our process time for potential volunteers can take up to four weeks.

If interested in becoming a potential volunteer, click here:  Volunteer at Facility · Customer Self-Service (va.gov)

• Minimum 100 hours over six months
• Complete CDCE scheduled interview with specialist
• Complete CDCE volunteer training, handbook, orientation, and other VA requirements
• All volunteers are required to be fully vaccinated:  coronavirus (COVID-19), tuberculosis (TB), and influenza (Flu).
• Background check and VA volunteer ID badge (provided by VANTHCS Security)
• VA volunteer badge is required to volunteer in person at a VHA facility
• Required volunteer uniform

Once Selected and Approved

• Interview with area supervisor
• Start date will be determined by program manager and assigned area supervisor

If interested in becoming a potential volunteer, click here:  Volunteer at Facility · Customer Self-Service (va.gov)

Donating is just a click away with an online donation option that provides community members the account of their choice. E-Donate provides a quick, safe way for you to pledge your support to Veterans online.

E-Donate also allows you to make a donation in honor of or in memory of a loved one, or other person of your choice. You choose the medical center, the amount, and the program you’d like to help. And there are no extra fees to use the secure website, so every penny of your donation goes to help Veterans. 

In person:

If you’d like to donate monetary or non-monetary items, please contact CDCE at the location of your choice or email NTXVoluntaryAdmin@va.gov to schedule a time to drop-off your donation.

Dallas:  214-857-0428

Bonham:  903-583-6282

Fort Worth: 817-730-0078

By mail:

If you would like to make monetary (payable to VA North Texas Health Care System) or non-monetary donations by mail, please send to:

Dallas VA Medical Center
Center for development and civic engagement (135)
4500 S. Lancaster Rd
Dallas, TX 75216

Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center 
Center for development and civic engagement (135)
1201 E. 9th St.
Bonham, TX 75418

Ft. Worth VA Clinic 
Center for Development and Civic Engagement (135)
2201 SE Loop 820
Fort Worth, TX 76119

We ask that all donated items are new and not preowned or used, for the protection of our patients. 

Each location varies with acceptance of gifts based on facility needs. Contact the location of your choice to coordinate acceptable items and donation deliveries due to seasonal changes and current supply volume. Please note items that do not meet the guidelines or have a present need at the facility may be declined.

• Afghans, blankets, and lap robes

• Wheelchair and walker bags

• New clothing items (men & women) – sweat-pants, sweat-tops, t-shirts

• New socks and undergarments in unopened packages

• New puzzles (under 500 pieces)

• Hygiene Items: toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, brushes, deodorant, small toiletries (bath gel, shampoo, lotion). We only accept new unopened alcohol-free hygiene items. Please note the following will not be accepted due to infection control: bar soap and hotel/motel toiletry items.

• All items provided to Veterans must be safe, clean, and in good condition.
  • Damaged items with mold, mildew, insect markings or droppings, water stains, spider webs, dust, or cigarette smoke odor will not be accepted.
• CDCE does not accept anything containing alcohol or tobacco, glass, inappropriate reading material, used furniture, wheelchairs, prosthetic items, scooters, crutches, etc.
• VA accepting officials may decide to reject offers of gifts or donations of items for any reason including because there is no anticipated need for the items, or the maintenance of the items would be out of proportion to their value.
• Under the Internal Revenue Service's Tax Code, donations to VA for exclusively public purposes are deductible from federal income taxes in the manner and to the extent allowable. This reflects the tax law provision which makes those donations deductible as “donations to the United States.”
• A donation to support any VA programs is deductible, whether the donor directs that the donated funds be used for a specific purpose or allows the facility to decide how the donated funds will be used.
• VA will not appraise donations for tax purposes; however, we will provide a receipt for tax purposes.
• Because of privacy issues and perceptions of favoritism, VA does not identify specific Veterans for donation opportunities.

Contact the center for development and civic engagement, at the VA location of your choice Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. or by email to arrange for acceptance of your donation.

Do not leave your donated items at the Information Desk or entrances.

Unattended items will not be accepted, are considered a security risk, and will be destroyed.

Requirements for volunteers, donation acceptance, and visiting is subject to change without notification due to COVID-19.

VA accepting officials may decide to reject offers of gifts or donations of items for any reason including because there is no anticipated need for the items, or the maintenance of the items would be out of proportion to their value. We are responsible for providing safe and clean donations. Items that do not meet these criteria will be refused.

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that under the tax code, donations to the Department of Veterans Affairs' General Post Fund for exclusively public purposes are deductible from federal income taxes in the manner and to the extent allowable.

The announcement reflects the tax law provision which makes those donations deductible as "donations to the United States." A donation to support any of the department's programs are deductible, whether the donor directs that the donated funds be used for a specific purpose or allows the department to decide how the donated funds will be used.