Changing the lives of kids with cancer, one smile at a time
There are lots of ways we can match your skills and interests to help kids and families battling cancer. Our programming is diverse and volunteers can gain new skills by helping out with Meal Service, Hospital Outreach, Special Events and so much more! So whether you’re available for a few hours a week or a few hours a month, we have volunteer options with varying levels of commitment.
There are many ways to volunteer with Ronald McDonald House New York
Our House was built by incredible volunteers. With the help of thousands of volunteers and hundreds of corporate groups we are able to provide daily meals, activities, and so much more for our families. Here are a few ways to get involved:
At the House
Volunteers at the House help support our staff and families with everything from helping greet families in the lobby to putting on fun activities and experiments for the entire family to enjoy.
At a Partner Hospital
A little bit of cheer can go a long way, especially at an unfamiliar hospital setting. Our Hospital Outreach volunteers serve children who are not residents of our House, but who still need encouragement while they undergo treatment at nearby hospitals.
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Ronald McDonald House New York! Volunteers are at the heart of the House and are integral to what we do. We have several volunteering opportunities from supporting operations at the House, to bringing our mission to our partnering hospitals, and more. Due to our investment and training in our volunteers we ask that volunteers commit to at least one year of volunteering with us.
Please find more information below about our current needs at the House.
Links
Apply Now
Meal Service
- Families staying at the House have all of their meals provided by our incredibly generous supporters. Our volunteers help serve these meals directly to families, two times a day, seven days a week! Volunteers on our Meal Service team help intake food donations, resupply our Parent's Pantry, restock our beverages, and serve meals from our Dining Room.
- Times: Weekdays, Evenings, and Weekends
Programs To-Go Packaging
- One of our goals is to always expand and impact more families with our services and programming. Programs To-Go was created to bring our amazing activities directly to families whose child is receiving care at our partnering hospitals. This allows us to reach more families directly in our community. Each week, volunteers help us pack our Programs to Go packs at the House and get them ready for transport to hospitals in every borough.
- Times: Weekdays, Evenings, and Weekends
Hospital outreach
- We partner with hospitals in order to bring our services and support directly into the community we live in. At each of our partnering hospitals, volunteers bring programs, snacks, and smiles to families directly where their loved one is receiving care. Our volunteers help at Kings County in Brooklyn, Elmhurst in Queens, and New York Presbyterian & Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. Each one of our partnering hospitals is unique and volunteers must be both onboarded with Ronald McDonald House New York and with the respective hospital.
- Times: Weekdays
Other Opportunities
- Ways to help the House and volunteer doesn’t stop with our everyday needs and we often are looking for help in other ways. Sometimes, volunteers know a skill or way they can help we have not even thought of yet! Some of these more unique needs include Certified Tutors, Volunteer drivers, and more. If you feel like you have a way of supporting the House, we would love to hear from you.
Interested in supporting any of these opportunities?
Apply Here
***We ask that all volunteers commit to one year of service. All volunteers must be 18 years old to participate. If you have little ones that want to give back, please see below.
Youth Volunteering
While most volunteering at the House is restricted to those 18 years of age and older, there are ways those under 18 can get involved. Snack Drives, fundraisers, and other events on behalf of the House are an excellent way to help the families staying here. Click on the link 'How To Get Involved Outside The House' to brainstorm some ideas for projects you can do within your school and community to get involved!
Another opportunity for high school students is our Youth Advisory Council (YAC.) Council members meet once per month in a hybrid setting, complete a service project on behalf of the House, and are able to participate in other special events. For more information about Youth Advisory Council please see the link below: