There are many reasons people volunteer, whether it's a strong desire to help others, or a well-deserved sense of satisfaction.  Volunteering your time and efforts can be personally rewarding and make a difference in the lives of hospitalized children. 

What does a Kate's Kart volunteer do?

As a Kate's Kart volunteer, you and a partner will push a fully-stocked book cart through the hospital, offering free books to pediatric patients to keep and take home.

What is involved with becoming a Kate's Kart volunteer?

To volunteer with Kate's Kart, you are required to become a registered volunteer at whichever hospital(s) you wish to work.  This includes:

1. Completing a hospital volunteer application (which includes a criminal history background check)

2. Submitting to a urine drug screening

3. Attending a 1-2 hour hospital orientation (see schedule below)

4. Completing a 2-shot series TB test (in the arm); to be updated annually

5. Receiving your official hospital identification badge

There is no cost to you.  The hospital covers all expenses.

Are there any age restrictions?

Due to hospital regulations, all volunteers must be at least 16 years of age.

What is expected of me?

Every new volunteer will be provided with a Volunteer Handbook which details our history, policies and procedures.  During your shift, you will push the Kart to each designated area within the hospital where you will offer books to pediatric patients.  The Kart can be very heavy, and there is a lot of walking involved, so being in good physical condition is important. You will need to be prepared to briefly explain who Kate's Kart is and our mission; however, many long-term patients will already know who you are.  Specific guidelines are in place regarding distribution of the books and are outlined in the handbook.

Volunteers are scheduled to work on a monthly basis by our Volunteer Schedulers.  The schedule is posted 2-6 weeks in advance on the Kate's Kart website.  We ask for a once-per-month commitment.  You will be paired with another volunteer for your shift, and it will be up to you and your partner to arrange a time/place to meet.  The Kate's Kart Volunteer Schedulers will set the original schedule; however, it is your responsibility to find a replacement if you should be unable to fulfill your assigned shift.  You will have access to a complete contact list of other volunteers who work at the same hospital for your reference.

The amount of time it takes to run the Kart varies depending on which hospital, the time of year, and number of patients.  Generally, it takes about an hour.

• Lutheran Hospital runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

• Parkview Regional Medical Center runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

• Dupont Hospital runs Mondays and Thursdays

The other hospitals we service are self-sufficient and do not require volunteers.

You are expected to adhere to each hospital's dress code (basically no jeans, shorts or open-toed shoes), and will be provided with an apron to wear while running the Kart. 

Hospital Orientation Schedule:

• Lutheran Hospital - 2nd Tuesday of each month from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

• Parkview Regional Medical Center - Once per month on a Wednesday or Saturday morning (please contact us for specific dates)

• Dupont Hospital - 4th Tuesday of each month from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

How do I get started?

The first step in becoming a Kate's Kart volunteer is to complete our online application.  Upon receipt of your application, you will be contacted by a Kate's Kart Volunteer Scheduler who will coordinate your hospital training and start your paperwork.  Once your application, hospital orientation and TB testing has been completed, you will be scheduled for a training session with an experienced Kate's Kart volunteer.  During this session, you will learn what parts of the hospital to visit with the Kart, where the Kart is stored, accurate record keeping of the Kart's inventory, and what to say to the patients and families (and maybe more importantly, what not to say).

I would rather not work in a hospital setting.  Is there any other way I can help?

Absolutely!  If the hospital environment is not for you, or if you would like to involve your family or organization, we have plenty of other ways to volunteer, including sorting, counting and labeling books, organizing book drives, or donating your time at our annual ice cream social.

Have more questions?

If you have additional questions, please contact us at info@kateskart.org or call (260) 413-4089.  We would love to have you on our team!