Phoenix VA Health Care System

     More than 1,000 volunteers proudly help the Phoenix VA Health Care System carry out of its mission of serving Veterans in the Phoenix area each year.
     “Their duties are as varied as the Veterans we serve,” said PVAHCS Voluntary Service specialist Frank Grinere.
     Some volunteers shuttle Veterans and their families from the parking lots to the main hospital, while others staff the information desk providing directions and other helpful assistance to patients. Volunteers can also be found in various departmental offices throughout the facility. They do everything from filing paperwork to assisting with the Veterans History Project, which preserves Veterans’ stories for future generations.
     In fact, Grinere recommends that those interested in volunteering have a clear idea of where they want to serve in mind before they embark on the path required for becoming a volunteer.
     The steps include being fingerprinted and completing a background check, taking two TB tests and attending a Volunteer Orientation class. The minimum age for volunteering is 17.
     Those interested in becoming a volunteer at the PVAHCS can stop by Building 3, Room 10, which is just north of the main hospital building between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. or call (602) 222-6419 for more information.
     When asked to make a sales pitch for volunteering at PVAHCS, Grinere summed it up by stating, “The sense of satisfaction you will derive from serving our nation’s heroes will be second to none.”