Special One Time Visitors
Members of many organizations volunteer at Texas Children's Hospital. Patients look forward to the many wonderful donations and special events organized by volunteers from universities, churches, retirement and nursing homes, corporations and professional societies. Because of the flexibility of the group volunteer program, some organizations volunteer only once, while others come once a year and still others serve every month. Due to a limited number of opportunities available on-site, many groups are encouraged to give back to the Hospital from a distance, by coordinating on off-site toy drive or craft-making activity.
While the Hospital is able to provide a wonderful variety of activities, we do offer limited one time group volunteer opportunities on-site. Please review our complete set of guidelines and suggestions for group volunteers. For the health and safety of our patients, we must limit the number of people who are able to have direct contact with our patients and families and visit the patient floors. If your group is looking for a way to get more involved, some employees of corporations and members of organizations fill a weekly volunteer placement, with group members rotating their assignments.
Group Volunteer Visitors
Groups of volunteers all over the age of 18 may visit the hospital with new toys or games to distribute to patients throughout the hospital. Groups interested in doing this kind of activity are asked to bring in at least 200 similar new toys to be distributed to all patients in the hospital. The group will then be escorted by an experienced Texas Children’s volunteer on patient floors. Currently only weekday visits may be scheduled. Please call at least a month in advance to schedule a visit. During the holiday season, three months notice is required. Due to very limited scheduling availability, opportunities are not guaranteed.
Saturday Breakfast for FamiliesProvide commercially prepared breakfast for families on a selected floor of Texas Children's Hospital. This opportunity is for groups of no more than 10 adult volunteers who have an adequate budget.
- Approximate time: 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
- Number of people you will serve: 40
- Focus will be on families who are experiencing long-term hospital stays, or especially difficult health conditions.
Before your visit, please review the following guidines:
These were designed to protect our patients, their families and our ability to provide the very best care possible.
- All groups must be scheduled in advance.
- All visitors must be at least 18 years old.
- We usually cannot accommodate large groups.
- All donations must be new and unused for infection control purposes.
- We screen all gifts and toys for safety before they can be given to children.
- We do not accept gifts with religious references.
- We do not allow photos/videos of patients to be taken.
- We do not allow food to be given to our patients.
- Every visitor must be healthy and have no recent exposure to contagious diseases such as a cold, the flu, or chicken pox.
If your group is not interested in one of these on-site volunteer opportunities, please visit the Off-Site Volunteer Opportunities section of our website to learn ways you can give back.