People decide to donate their time to others for a variety of reasons. Some want to experience the satisfaction of knowing they are making a difference in others' lives. Others want to give back to their community. And still others become volunteers because they enjoy the social aspect it offers by making them feel like they belong.

While people could choose to volunteer at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center for any—or all—of the reasons listed above, several aspects unique to the health care setting make Lahey a particularly desirable place to volunteer:

• Volunteering at the hospital provides wonderful opportunities for career exploration by introducing junior (ages 14 to 18) and adult (ages 18 and up) volunteers to the full range of jobs performed in a health care setting. Hospitals employ a variety of people beyond doctors and nurses, including pharmacists, physical therapists, nutritionists, engineers, laboratory technicians, social workers, and chefs, among many others.
• Teenagers can experience job responsibility for the first time as junior volunteers in a cutting-edge medical facility, where continually evolving technology creates a fun and exciting work environment. Junior volunteers must be 16 years of age to volunteer during the school year. An eight-week summer program is available to volunteers ages 14 and older. It requires a commitment of two, four-hour shifts per week for a minimum of six weeks, totaling at least 50 hours.
• People who have received excellent care at Lahey—or have family members who have— often want to give back to the hospital. Volunteering is a perfect way for these individuals to show thanks for their good health.
• There is a wide range of volunteer opportunities available, from providing assistance on inpatient floors to performing clerical duties in administrative areas of the hospital.