Volunteer or donate

In addition to supporting Veterans in your area, you'll enjoy the following benefits as a VA volunteer: 

• Free Canteen meals during shifts of 4 or more hours
• Free parking 
• Free annual flu shot
• Job skills development
• Job search opportunities

Whatever your interests, Wilmington health care has volunteer opportunities for you. We ask that you volunteer 100 hours during your first year. Our shifts last a minimum of 4 hours and usually take place from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

Below are some of the ways you can help. Other assignments not listed here might be available as well. If you’re interested in volunteering, or have special skills to offer, please contact us so we can discuss how you can best help our patients. All volunteers complete a background check and tuberculosis test.

Patient care 

• Campus Shuttle Driver:  The Shuttle Driver assists transporting patients and visitors from their car to the entrance of the medical center.  The service is especially needed during inclement weather to assist patients.
• Chaplain Support: (Multiple volunteers are needed to help transport patients from the Community Living Center to the Chapel for religious services on Sunday.  Following the services, patients are encouraged to stay for fellowship in the Patient Lounge. (Sundays, 1:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. 
• Coffee program: Wednesday Patient Lounge Attendant.  The attendant prepares coffee for patients and visitors in our Patient Lounge. We also have openings Mon., Tues., and Thurs., 7a.m. – 1 p.m. for a Coffee Cart Attendant.  The attendant takes a coffee cart to outpatient waiting areas to offer free beverages to patient and visitors in the waiting areas.  
• Patient Escort: Bring patients to medical clinics, chapel, recreation, and programs.
• Front Desk: Greet outpatients, guests, visitors, and patients' families, answer phones, and transfer calls at the information desk.
• One-on-one Visitation: Be a compassionate companion on call with our No Veteran Dies Alone program or visit with our patients while they recover.
• Recreation: Help with arts and crafts projects, play bedside games, help on field trips, show bedside movies, and help therapists with activities.  
• Transportation:  Volunteer Drivers are needed to help drive patients from their homes to VA medical centers.  Currently we are looking to fill a Driver position for Thursdays.  Times are 7am-1pm depending on patient requests.  We provide the vehicle, operating costs, and training.  Interested applicants must have current driver’s license, car insurance, and pass a physical exam.

Administrative support 

• Office assistance: Type, file, answer phones, keep records, enter data, and call patients to remind them about appointments.
• Pharmacy: Help the pharmacist and deliver supplies to the patient care units.

If you’re a student who’s 14 to 18 years old, volunteer for us this summer. You can learn more about health careers, sharpen your job skills, meet fantastic people—and have fun.

Volunteer to make a difference

As a youth volunteer, you’ll help in many ways:

• Serve coffee
• Direct and escort patients within VA facilities 
• Help in clinics
• Help with recreation programs

Perks

You’ll qualify for these great benefits:

• Summer youth certificate for 80 hours (or more) of service
• Free lunch for 4 or more hours of service
• Free parking
• Invitation to join in special programs throughout the summer

How to join us 

If you're a student who wants to participate in our summer youth program, or know students who might be interested, contact our Voluntary Services office. 

Phone: 302-994-2511, ext. 34545

Make a difference in the lives of our Veterans through floor visits or sponsoring special programs at our community living center (CLC). Here’s your chance to join in the fun, friendships, and laughter by sponsoring one of our programs. (limited due to COVID pandemic) 

• Bingo: Provide volunteers to run bingo games. Please bring prizes purchased from our Canteen.
• Catered lunch: Provide and serve a catered lunch from a local restaurant for a patient unit.
• Community activity: Connect Veterans with the community by buying gift cards or donating admission fees to movies, musicals, bowling, and sports games.
• Craft or hobby: Lead craft projects such as painting and woodworking. Your group will bring the supplies and lead Veterans in the project.
• Fourth of July cookout: Help our Veterans celebrate Independence Day. Your group will provide, cook, and serve a meal.
• Social: Provide decorations and refreshments for group social events such as birthday parties, ice cream socials, holiday celebrations, and Veterans Day activities.

Where we need extra help

We always need people to drive patients to their appointments at our medical center and clinics. To fill this important role, you must have a current driver’s license and car insurance, receive mandatory training, and pass a physical exam. 

Contact us

If you have questions about donating or volunteering, please contact:

James Coty
Wilmington VAMC
james.coty@va.gov

Phone: 302-994-2511, ext. 34545

Donating is just a click away now that VA medical centers accept donations online. You just need a major credit card, debit card, checking account, or savings account. 
Make an online donation 

If you'd like to donate to Wilmington health care, please send a check (payable to "VA Wilmington Healthcare System") to the following address: 

Wilmington VA Medical Center
Voluntary Services office
1601 Kirkwood Highway
Wilmington, DE 19805

Some people prefer to give money, while others prefer to donate items needed by our Veterans. We appreciate all forms of generosity.

Note: We don’t accept homemade food.

We welcome the following items: 

Personal care

• Body-care products: lotion, soap, deodorant, and shaving cream or gel
• Dental supplies: toothbrushes, toothpaste, toothbrush holders, nonalcoholic mouthwash, and denture adhesive
• Hairbrushes and combs
• Reading glasses
• Spa baskets for female Veterans
• Thermometers
• Tissues

Clothing (new items only)

• Gloves 
• Hats (winter hats and baseball caps)
• Hooded sweatshirts 
• Jeans and pants 
• Long-sleeve shirts 
• Shower shoes, flip-flops
• Sneakers and shoes 
• Socks
• Suspenders and belts
• Sweatpants 
• Sweatshirts
• T-shirts 
• Underwear (all men’s and women’s sizes) 
• Winter coats 

Assorted items

• Chess and checkers sets
• Disposable cups, napkins, plates, forks, and spoons
• Fleece blankets (twin size)
• Gift cards for gas and groceries ($10 to $25 each card)
• Ground coffee
• Markers and other craft items for art projects
• Personal-size bedside fan (not floor models)
• Puzzles
• Puzzle books, unused
• Reading glasses (1.25 and higher) and eyeglass repair kits
• Wheelchair cup holders

Housing needs for homeless Veterans moving into their new homes 

• All-purpose cleaner
• Baking sheets
• Bath towel sets
• Bedbug mattress covers (queen)
• Blankets (twin or queen)
• Brooms with dustpans
• Buckets
• Clocks
• Clock radios
• Countertop microwaves
• Crock-Pots
• Dish or laundry soap
• Dishes and silverware sets for 4 people
• First-aid kits (small)
• Flashlights
• Frying pans
• Kitchen utensil sets
• Lysol spray
• Mattresses
• Measuring cups, spatulas, and mixing bowls
• Paper towels
• Pillows
• Potholders
• Pots with lids
• Sheet sets (twin or queen)
• Small or medium coffee makers (no Keurig)
• Swiffer cleaning products
• Toilet brushes
• Toilet paper
• Vacuum cleaners
• Welcome baskets with cleaning supplies