Volunteer
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Join a caring community of volunteers who transform lives. Together, we can make countless wishes come true.
Your time and unique talents are critical to bringing strength and hope to wish kids when they need it the most. In fact, our volunteers are at the heart of every wish experience.
Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina volunteers consider their work impactful and meaningful. And, their efforts are rewarded—not in dollars or cents, but in the incredible difference they make in the lives of our wish kids. Volunteers even have the freedom to choose when and how they would like to help transform lives in our community.
We understand that you want to volunteer but might not know where your skills and talents best lie. Check out our volunteer opportunities below and see where you can best help make wishes come true.
Volunteers must live within our chapter area and must be a minimum of 18 years of age to work directly with wish families. If you are under the age of 18, please contact us to learn how you can help our organization in other meaningful ways. In addition, certain roles require completion of a background check as part of the application process.
See an opportunity to help? Please complete the online Volunteer Interest Form and we will be in touch about next steps.
“It brings so much joy to me to see that what we’re doing is really giving these kids so much strength and hope.”
Valerie
Trailblaze Challenge participant
Wish Discovery Volunteer
Working with a partner, meet with a wish child and their family to determine the child’s most heartfelt wish and to assist the family in completing the necessary paperwork. Wish Discovery meetings may take place in-person or on-line, depending on the family’s preference and volunteer availability. This position requires sensitivity, organization, and comfort in working directly with children.
Wish Celebration Volunteer
Working with another Celebration Volunteer, create a unique wish experience for a wish child by planning and delivering a “send-off” or “presentation” celebration when a wish is ready to be delivered. Celebrations may occur in the wish family’s home or a nearby venue/restaurant. This position requires creativity, sensitivity, and dependability as well as a flair for fun! Click below for more details about this position:
Assist with the planning, organizing, and implementation of successful fundraising or community outreach events by working on event committees, securing additional support, helping on event day and/ or promoting the event.
Use your personal or professional skills and knowledge on an as-needed basis to assist with the granting of a wish, marketing, specials events and more. Bi-lingual volunteers are especially important to providing equitable wish experiences for all our families. Some additional needed skills include:
Construction / Carpentry * Entertainment Skills * Event Planning * Graphic Design / Art Design * Interior Decorating/ Design/ Painting * Photography/ Videography * Professional Certifications * Professional Writing/ Storytelling * Scrapbooking
As each skill-based need is highly specific, we do not provide a more detailed job description for this role. Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator directly by completing the Volunteer Interest Form to discuss how we can best utilize your skills and talents to further our mission.
Open to wish alumni and their families, represent Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina at a number of external outreach and fundraising events to share your wish experience.
Wish Booster
Provide special, creative touches that keep a wish child excited and engaged as they wait for their wish. Wish boosters build hope and anticipation throughout the Wish Journey and ensure that each wish child enjoys an equitable wish experience. NEW POSITION COMING IN LATE 2023.
Your Make-A-Wish Journey Starts Today.
At every level of the organization, volunteers are critical to our mission. Get started today and soon you can bring hope and joy to local children with critical illnesses as a Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina volunteer. All volunteers are asked to meet a series of requirements before becoming an active volunteer, including attending an orientation session, completing the volunteer application, interviewing with a staff member, and submitting to relevant background checks/ additional trainings (depending on the volunteer role).
Complete a Volunteer Interest Form: To get started, please share your contact information and we will be in touch soon regarding next steps Volunteer Interest Form
Attend an Orientation Session: Next, register for an orientation session to learn more about Make-A-Wish and our chapter’s volunteer opportunities and obligations. You'll receive information regarding date, time, and location after you have completed the Volunteer Interest Form.
Fill out an application: If, after attending the orientation session, you find a volunteer role(s) of interest, please complete the Volunteer Application. This will be sent to you after completion of the orientation session. This is used as a preliminary screening tool, and incomplete applications will not be considered. Return the Volunteer Application to our office by email at [email protected] (preferred method) or by mail:
Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina
Attn: Volunteer Program
3809 Computer Drive, Suite 201
Raleigh, NC 27609
Chat with a staff member: After we receive your completed application, you will speak with a staff member to answer your questions and allow time for our team to learn more about you and your interests. We will discuss volunteer options and any additional training or paperwork requirements.
Submit your paperwork: After your conversation, you may be asked to complete a criminal background check and submit final paperwork (depending on volunteer role).
Complete additional trainings: Certain volunteer roles require more in-depth training. We will provide the dates, times, and locations of these trainings as relevant to your interests.
Welcome! You are officially now a volunteer for Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina. You will be an integral part of delivering our mission. We will continue to support you with additional learning opportunities, social networks, and regular communication from our office. Welcome to the team!
“I’ve often said I was like a fairy godmother to these children. Being a part of this time in their life- where they don’t think about being sick-that is a priceless moment in my life.”
Jeannie
Wish Volunteer
We work to support our volunteers by providing on-going training opportunities and communication networks. We connect volunteers to these resources once they have completed the onboarding process. Written materials to assist in your volunteer work can be found here.
Resources for volunteers
Wish kid Izzy at her wish celebration with her volunteers
Event volunteers at our Wish Upon a Chef fundraiser
Wish Kid Zac with his wish volunteer Travis.
Trailblaze Challenge event volunteers supporting hikers.