Needs From: United Way's Volunteer Center

Docents, also referred to as Aquarium Guides, are stationed throughout the galleries to interpret exhibits by offering educational information about the habitats, animals, and plants to visitors. Some situations allow Docents to use props to help explain the exhibit elements. Being a Docent is a combination of correct educational information and good customer service. Docents do not work with animals.

House volunteers: Provide administrative support, help keep the House clean and tidy, offer family support and greet families with welcoming smiles and listening ears.  

Family Room volunteers*: Help to ensure that those caring for sick loved ones are well taken care of and made to feel at home while using the Family Room inside Children’s Hospital (3rd floor). Volunteers help people register at the front desk, tidy up the kitchen, replenish snacks and food and interact with the visitors.

*You must be at least 18 years old or older to serve in the Family Room. In addition, you must complete Erlanger’s volunteer process, including the completion of a background check, health screening, immunization submission (flu, COVID, etc.), and a brief orientation.

Fruits and Vegetables Program: Position requires the ability to stand, prepare fruits and vegetables, and to distribute to the entire student body at Bess T. Shepherd Elementary school.

Preparation can consist of washing and, on occasion, slicing fruits and vegetables. Volunteers are needed August through May, every Tuesday and Thursday.

Sack Packs*: Pack enough food into a plastic shopping bag for children from area elementary schools (on the free and reduced lunch program) to have nutrition over the weekend. Requires some lifting and bending. This can be done in a group.

Emergency Food Boxes*: Volunteers serve at the Foxwood location (3209 Wilcox Blvd.) by giving out food boxes, assisting clients pick food, and, if needed, helping clients to their vehicles.

*Volunteer as an individual or group and help us sort, bag, and box food in a warehouse environment while working cooperatively with other volunteers and staff.  Closed-toe shoes are required. Volunteers may potentially be lifting 25-30 pound boxes.

From their website: “The East Ridge Food Pantry is a collaborative ministry with several area congregations who have partnered together to meet the needs of our [East Ridge United Methodist] parish in East Ridge.” The pantry is open the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays each month, 10A-2P. Volunteer duties include, but are not limited to, picking up donations, and distributing food boxes to recipients through their contactless, outdoor model. On the Tuesday before each distribution, volunteers are needed to help pack food boxes for the following day.