Make a Difference at LCMC Health: How Volunteers Impact Lives and How You Can Too

Behind every patient experience is a team of dedicated professionals working tirelessly to provide exceptional care. But there’s another group—often working quietly in the background—whose impact is just as meaningful: volunteers.

At LCMC Health, volunteers play an essential role in the care experience, offering comfort, connection and compassion to patients and families across the system’s hospitals.

A Program Rooted in Compassion

The Volunteer Program at LCMC Health is built on a simple but powerful idea: small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

Volunteers support patients, visitors, and care teams in meaningful ways from greeting families and helping them navigate the hospital to offering comfort during some of life’s most challenging moments. Across the system, volunteers contribute thousands of hours each year, helping create a more welcoming, supportive environment for everyone who walks through the doors.

Opportunities Across the LCMC Health System

Volunteers can serve across multiple hospitals within the LCMC Health system, including:

• Manning Family Children’s
• East Jefferson General Hospital
• Lakeview Hospital
• Lakeside Hospital
• New Orleans East Hospital
• Touro
• University Medical Center New Orleans
• West Jefferson Medical Center

With placements available in nearly every department, volunteers can find opportunities that align with their interests, skills, and schedules.

A Variety of Ways to Serve

Volunteer roles are diverse and flexible, allowing individuals to contribute in ways that feel meaningful to them. Opportunities may include:

• Greeting and guiding patients and visitors
• Assisting at information desks or waiting areas
• Supporting clinical teams with non-medical tasks
• Escorting patients and families throughout the hospital
• Providing comfort and companionship to patients
• Assisting with administrative or clerical support

In many cases, volunteers also serve as ambassadors offering reassurance, answering questions, and helping create a sense of calm in what can often feel like an overwhelming environment.

Whether you’re a student, working full-time, or retired, the program offers flexible opportunities that make it possible to give back in a way that fits your schedule—even if it’s just a few hours a week.

Voices of Our Volunteers

Across LCMC Health, volunteers bring compassion, purpose, and humanity into every interaction. Their experiences reflect the heart behind the program and the difference even the smallest gesture can make. Together, these moments reflect a coordinated, system-wide effort to enhance the patient experience across every LCMC Health facility.

“I am the first face patients and families see when they enter the MRCH on Saturday mornings—many of them overwhelmed or unsure of what comes next. I think about the 5-to-1 rule—that it takes at least five positive interactions to outweigh one negative one—and it reminds me how important that first interaction is. Even something as simple as a smile, a snack, or engaging with children and their families can shift the tone of their visit. Watching children come in anxious and leave smiling reminds me why this work matters. It’s in those small moments that you realize you’re making a difference.”
— Marissa Hogan, Loyola University New Orleans student and volunteer at the Morgan Rae Center for Hope(MRCH) at Manning Family Children’s

“I am retired and was looking for a way to help others. Volunteering gives me a sense of purpose and connection. I greet patients, guide them, and help them find where they need to go, but more than that, I get to be part of their experience. Seeing patients leave happy, especially families going home with a new baby, is something that never gets old.”
— Gale Froeba, Volunteer for nearly 3 years, Lakeside Hospital

“Volunteering has made me a better person and brought so much joy into my life. Seeing the strength, resilience and the smiles on these kids’ faces is something that will stay with me forever. It’s not about doing something big—it’s just about being there. Sitting with a child, playing a game, or keeping them company can bring a sense of normalcy during a difficult time. When a child calls you one of the ‘fun people’ or asks when they’ll see you again, you realize how much those moments matter. If you’re thinking about volunteering, do it—it’s impossible to regret making a child smile.
— Hanna Sieradzki, Tulane University pre-med student and volunteer, Acute Care Nursing Center, Manning Family Children’s

“After retiring from teaching, I knew I still wanted to give back and volunteering at East Jefferson General Hospital has been the perfect fit. For 15 years, I’ve worked at the information desk helping families find their way, and sometimes that simple act means everything. I love sending people to the mother-baby unit, especially new grandparents, and seeing familiar faces go home after receiving great care. I truly look forward to my shifts and the friendships I’ve built along the way. If you’re thinking about volunteering, East Jefferson is the best place.”
— Linda Trevino, Volunteer (15 years), Information Desk, East Jefferson General Hospital

“My role is to bring a sense of comfort and joy, even in the smallest ways. Whether it’s handing a child a coloring sheet or holding a baby until they feel calm, those moments can change everything. I’ll never forget holding a crying infant and watching her heart rate slow as she settled into my arms. That’s the power of presence and it’s something I carry with me every day. The love, kindness, and joy you bring to volunteering is the same love, kindness, and joy these patients will give you back.”
— Kennedi Montague, Volunteer, CICU and ED Art Cart, Manning Family Children’s

“Many people who come through our doors are worried, scared, and nervous. A friendly smile and a comforting word can go a long way to calm their fears and concerns. Being able to help someone find their way is incredibly meaningful. Sometimes, it’s just about helping someone feel a little less alone.”
— Nola O’Conner, Volunteer (6+ years), Front Information Desk, East Jefferson General Hospital

“Volunteering is truly about giving back—but you receive just as much in return. Over the years, I’ve had patients and families recognize me when they return, and that connection means everything. It reminds me that showing up, caring, and being present really does leave a lasting impact.”
— Terri Gonzales-Kreisman, Volunteer (since 2002), Volunteer Office, East Jefferson General Hospital
 

Answer the Call to Serve

The need for compassionate volunteers continues to grow and so does the opportunity to make a difference.

Whether you have a few hours a week or simply a desire to give back, there’s a place for you within the LCMC Health Volunteer Program.

To learn more or apply, visit: Volunteer Opportunities in New Orleans - LCMC Health.