A Teen's Guide to Getting More Involved

Being a volunteer means more than just showing up. It is about helping your community and filling gaps that are needed. As a teen, volunteering can give you valuable skills in communication, leadership and teamwork you can apply throughout your life that you may not have gotten otherwise - and Christian Palacios and Sam Doule are getting just that volunteering at Valley Children’s!  

Christian's Volunteering Journey 

Christian became a Valley Children’s volunteer because they love helping others and had experience working with children through other volunteer opportunities with their church and at Break the Barriers, an organization aimed at celebrating awareness and victories of all abilities, ethnicities and ages through exceptional programs, outreach and inclusion education.

With dreams of becoming a doctor, volunteering at Valley Children’s also gives Christian a first-hand look at the different positions in a hospital that help it run.  

Sam's Volunteering Journey 

Sam started volunteering with Valley Children’s to be more involved in the Central Valley community. Sam knows that being in the hospital can be a challenging time for many kids and families, so volunteering opens the door to making a positive impact on patients.  

Being a volunteer to Sam is more than just the hours put in. It is about the service you can provide to your community in little ways. Being the reason a child smiles after a procedure or helping a family find their way throughout the hospital makes a difference, and Sam is proud to be a part of that mission.  

Ways You Can Get Involved

• Think about causes you already care about and see what volunteer opportunities they may have. This could be walking dogs for your local animal shelter or volunteering for an after-school sports program!
• Use your resources. Your school or local library is a great place to begin looking for volunteer opportunities! Many opportunities can be found through community bulletin boards or by word of mouth.
• Start small and be reliable. Do not overcommit yourself if you know you have other obligations. Volunteering for 1-2 hours per month is a great place to start. Pro tip: Ask about volunteering requirements up front. If there is a minimum time requirement, this is something good to know as you decide which volunteering effort works best for you. 

Volunteering as a teen can allow you to explore your interests like Christian, or make a difference in your community like Sam. Whether you have zero or 100 hours of volunteering under your belt, we encourage you to see where you can volunteer in your community. You never know where it can lead you!  

Volunteering at Valley Children's 

Volunteers are at the heart of Valley Children’s patient experience, providing crucial support services to the Hospital. More than 230 Valley Children’s volunteers of all ages and 9 canine teams collectively donate approximately 2,100 hours a month to enhance the healing process for patients and families.

Learn more about opportunities to volunteer at Valley Children's