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 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 and see where you can best help make wishes come true.
Volunteer Types
Wish Granter
- Wish Granter:
- A Wish Granter meets with the Wish family to discover, plan, and fulfill a wish. They work in teams of two or more to plan a wish celebration (potentially with a sponsor) and create a memorable experience for each wish family. Volunteers must be 18 or older and pass a criminal background check. Best suited for people who love kids, are detail-oriented, and are enthusiastic about our mission.
- Wish Discovery Volunteer:
- Will meet with the wish child and family members to help identify the child’s wish ideas while completing the necessary paperwork. Wish Discovery volunteers work in teams of two alongside Make-A-Wish staff to ensure every eligible child’s wish comes true. These discovery calls will be done in person or virtually depending on the family's needs.
Wish Celebration Volunteer
- A Wish Celebration Volunteer
- Will act as the Make-A-Wish liaison to the wish family after the wish has been determined and the paperwork completed. These volunteers will also coordinate and execute a wish celebration two to three weeks prior to the wish being granted. Wish celebration volunteers work in teams of two alongside Make-A-Wish staff to ensure every eligible child’s wish comes true.
Help facilitate wish experiences for non-English-speaking families. Translators attend wish visit and phone calls, but they are not directly involved in planning wishes.
Help with office tasks such as mailing letters, filing, cleaning, and organizing. Some tasks do require background checked volunteers; however this is not a requirement for all office volunteers.
Event volunteers serve once or multiple times a year at fundraising or wish-granting events. Duties include hosting registration tables, answering phones, collecting donations, setting up or breaking down event sites, assisting staff, and more. This opportunity is great for volunteers who have less time to commit to training and volunteering.
These volunteers bid farewell to wish children and their families before they leave on travel wishes. They meet the family at the airport and assist with check-in. Great for people familiar with their local airport who can comfort potentially nervous families about traveling far from home. Volunteers must be at least 18-years-old and pass a criminal background check. Training is required.
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 volunteer.
Fill out an application: This is used as a preliminary screening tool, and incomplete applications will not be considered. Volunteer Application
Chat with a Volunteer Coordinator: After we receive your completed application, you will speak with a Volunteer Coordinator to get any questions answered and you will be provided with upcoming training dates.
Attend a volunteer training: Learn about our mission to grant wishes for children with critical illnesses and your roles as a Make-A-Wish Mid-South volunteer.
Finalize paperwork: After you participate in training, you'll be asked to complete a criminal background check and submit final paperwork.
Welcome! You are now officially a volunteer for Make-A-Wish Mid-South! You will be an integral part of moving the Make-A-Wish mission forward.
MS/TN/NE AR: Ashleigh Rainer
Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected]
(901) 692-9511
AR: Gina Quattlebaum
Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected]
(501) 492-7274
How do I become a volunteer?
To begin the volunteer process you must fill out a Volunteer Application, complete a background check and attend a volunteer training session, if necessary. Most volunteers must be at least 18 years old. Volunteers are positive, outgoing and passionate about children and the Make-A-Wish mission. It's important that volunteers are comfortable in a variety of social situations.
Can I volunteer around my schedule?
Yes! Many volunteers have other commitments such as work, family and involvement in other organizations. Make-A-Wish Mid-South matches volunteers with the opportunity that fits you best (i.e. wish granting, administrative volunteer, airport volunteer, etc.). Volunteer Coordinators strive to be as flexible as possible with volunteer schedules.
Who are Wish Granters?
Wish Granters, working in teams of two or three, help in all stages of a child's wish. Wish Granters work directly with wish kids to decide on a wish and work creatively to find donated goods and services to help with the wish celebration ahead of the actual wish. Often times, the type of wish determines the level of the Wish Granter's involvement. Wish Granters are asked to attend a mandatory training, held in communities as needed, and work on at least three wishes per year.
What's volunteer training?
Wish Granter trainings are specialized trainings that consist of an overview of Make-A-Wish, the Wish Granting process, and are a combination of online and in-person training. Training dates are coordinated as needed in each community across the chapter's territory.
Why is a criminal background check required for volunteers?
Because volunteers work closely with children, Make-A-Wish Mid-South asks all volunteers to take a criminal background check. All information received from these reports will remain confidential and be used only for screening and placement purposes. Make-A-Wish policy prohibits our chapter from using the services of a volunteer if the volunteer has been convicted of a crime that victimizes children, is sexual in nature and /or involves violence, fraud or significant theft.