BECOME A VOLUNTEER

Our volunteers are the heart of the Knoxville Ronald McDonald House

Although monetary contributions are always welcome, becoming a volunteer is a more personal, hands-on approach to helping others. At the House, valuable volunteers perform a variety of different activities. We love to be adopted by churches, civic groups, business, and individuals. To arrange a tour or to receive further information, please call us at (865) 637-7475.

If you are with a group of people looking to volunteer, contact the House and ask to speak with our House Manager.

If you’re looking for ways to get involved on a regular basis as an individual, there are several steps to becoming a volunteer at the Knoxville Ronald McDonald House. Please contact us if you have any questions.

  1. Complete the online Volunteer Application below.
  2. Complete and return the Criminal Background Check form to the House. This background check form must be notarized before you send it to us.
  3. Complete and return the HIPAA Guidelines form to the House.

We utilize in-house volunteers 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. We highly recommend 3-hour shifts. You may call our Volunteer Coordinator or check out our volunteer opportunities below to find out about how flexible our volunteer programs can be — from teens to adults — we’re a great place to complete service hours for school. If volunteers are between the ages of 16 and 18 the Ronald McDonald House must obtain further permission from a parent or guardian. Some of the duties that are performed by volunteers are:

Interacting with our families

  • Preparing food at the House, from a snack to a meal.

Room Inventory

  • Make certain that each room are ready for the next family.
  • Make certain that there are enough sheets, towels, pillows etc.

Cleaning

  • Light cleaning (no toilets, honest), vacuuming, dusting, mopping etc.
  • Straightening the kitchen, organizing shelves, etc.
  • Organize and sterilize the playroom.

Yard work

  • Always need weeds pulled, ivy trimmed.
  • Seasonally planting flowers.
  • Raking the leaves in the fall.

Fundraising

  • Sign up for a shift during one of the many events we host each year.

VOLUNTEER FORM

    PERSONAL INFORMATION

    EMPLOYMENT

    EDUCATION

    YesNo

    YesNo

    VOLUNTEERING

    YesNo

    We utilize our in-House volunteers 7 days a week, from 9am until 9pm. We recommend a three-hour shift. Please choose the day and time that best fits your schedule and we will see if that time slot is available.

    MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday

    MorningAfternoonEvening

    In-House Volunteer (typically works one 3-hour shift per week)Auxiliary Volunteer (available for special needs and events)Junior Volunteer (ages 16 and older)

    Fund-raising: With 100% of our operating budget coming from special events, this aspect is crucial to our continued existence. We have many options to choose from throughout the year.Meal preparation & baking: Provide a meal of the day for approximately 30 people. This would include providing the ingredients and meal prep as well as kitchen clean-up. You could also bake muffins for breakfast or cookies for snacking.Cleaning/maintenance: All of those chores you do in your own home also need attention at our House. Those would include light housekeeping, restocking pantries, & small repairs. Serving up to 65 people each day, something will always need attention.Grounds & gardening: There are seasonal needs such as leaf removal in the Fall and weeding that needs attention 9 months out of the year. We also need care for our indoor plants.

    Note: While many of our prospective volunteers express an interest in working directly with children and their families, the vast majority of the population we serve at our RMH have little ones in the neonatal and critical care units, and therefore we rarely have children staying with us.

    I certify that all the information provided in this application is correct. Falsification, misrepresentation, or omissions of any information will be grounds to reject this application and/or terminate a volunteer's service.



    I understand that the Ronald McDonald House will contact the references submitted for verification and I release the Ronald McDonald House from any liability in connection with this process.



    I also understand the importance of this volunteer commitment and agree to abide by all rules and adhere to all the policies outlined by the Ronald McDonald House, most importantly all those pertaining to the privacy and confidentially concerning guest information. I also certify by my signature that I have never been convicted of a felony, child abuse/neglect or a sexual abuse offense.