Volunteers make our House a home.
Every day at Ronald McDonald House New York, volunteers turn compassion into action for families facing childhood cancer and other devastating illnesses. Whether you’re preparing a meal, leading an activity, sharing a professional skill, or spending time with children and caregivers, your presence brings comfort, connection, and moments of joy when families need them most.
From one-time projects to long-term commitments, there are countless ways to get involved, individually or with a group. Whatever your talents, interests, or schedule, we’ll help you find a meaningful way to make an impact for the children and families who call the House home.
When you volunteer, families feel it.
Volunteers are integral to what we do. We have several opportunities available from supporting operations at the House, to bringing our mission to our partnering hospitals, and more. 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.
Our requirements
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Minimum commitment:
1 year of service.
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Attendance:
We have strict attendance policies. Missing shifts impacts families directly.
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Background check:
All volunteers undergo background checks and training.
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Age requirement:
Most roles require volunteers to be 18+. Some family-friendly opportunities available.
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Corporate volunteer hours in 2024
10,349
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People in our volunteer community
9,999
Current Opportunities
We have ongoing needs in these areas. Each role has specific training requirements and time commitments.
Corporate Partnerships
For 45 years, companies like you have ensured families can afford to stay present during the child’s treatment. Your partnership provides the housing, meals, and support that makes proximity possible.
Individual Volunteering
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.
Families staying at the House have all meals provided. You’ll help serve breakfast and dinner directly to families, intake food donations, resupply our Parent’s Pantry, restock beverages, and serve meals from our Dining Room. When you show up consistently, families recognize you—you become part of their routine during an unpredictable time.
Times: Weekdays, evenings, and weekends
Commitment: One 4-hour shift per week for 6+ months
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
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
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.
Ready to commit?
If you can show up consistently, build trust with families, and contribute to making this place feel like home, we want to hear from you. Our application process is thorough because the work is important.
Group Volunteering
Nothing brings people together like making a meaningful difference for families facing pediatric cancer and other serious illnesses. Our corporate and community volunteer opportunities give teams the chance to create moments of comfort, joy, and support for children and caregivers staying at the House.
To learn more about group volunteer opportunities and find the right fit for your team, contact us today.
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.
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:
Volunteer Stories
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A Tale of Two Volunteers at Ronald McDonald House New York, Part 1
Stephanie Belanger and Vincent Miliote began volunteering at Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY) in 2018. Both either lived or worked on the Upper East Side of Manhattan near the East 73rd Street House and wanted to…
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A Tale of Two Volunteers at Ronald McDonald House New York, Part 2
In February of 2022, when Vincent Miliote’s social worker in New Jersey told him about an opportunity to stay at Ronald McDonald House New York to stay close to his newborn baby boy in the NICU at Mt. Sinai, he didn’t…
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Volunteer
A Year of Gratitude: Celebrating Volunteers Who Make RMH-NY a Home
At Ronald McDonald House New York, our mission to support families facing pediatric illness is one of compassion, care, and community. Each year, we witness incredible acts of kindness from a dedicated network of…
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Volunteer
Beau Loevner: RMH-NY’s Four-Legged Celebrity Volunteer
“When Beau came into the playroom on a Thursday night, it was like Elvis making an entrance. The kids just swarmed him. And Beau always responded with his version of an autograph…a big, sloppy smooch that inevitably…
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31 Days of Cheer: Making the Holidays Magical at RMH-NY
The holidays at Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY) are nothing short of spectacular. In fact, some years are so spectacular, even the Rockettes from The Radio City Spectacular can’t resist the festive pull of the…
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