VA Southwest Health Care Network - Volunteer Services

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The Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS), founded in 1946, is the largest centralized volunteer program in the Federal government. Since it’s beginning, the program has received over 508 million hours of service from volunteers. Volunteers serve our nation’s veterans while they are cared for at VA health care facilities across the nation.

They can be found in almost every VA medical facility doing a variety of tasks. Selection and placement is done according to the needs of the medical facility, assignment preference and skills. Training and orientation are provided to ensure volunteers have a positive experience. Volunteering provides an opportunity to learn new skills and make new friends. Youth and young adult volunteers also qualify to apply for scholarships. 

Volunteers of all ages help the VA provide quality services to those “who have born the battle.” They add an extra dimension of kindness, “the human touch” to VA and the veterans VA serves. The most important part of being a volunteer is the personal attention, care and warmth that add so much to the comfort and well-being of our patients.

Volunteering offers you an opportunity to say thank you to a special group of men and women. Show your appreciation to veterans whose service and sacrifices have helped preserve the freedom that we all value as Americans.