On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, everyone is encouraged to volunteer to improve their communities, working together toward a country where all people enjoy the benefits of diversity and equality.
The day is also designated as a National Day of Service. It is the only national holiday with that classification. It is a “day on, not a day off” to promote the spirit of volunteerism that makes our communities strong.
This year, we continue to honor Dr. King’s enduring vision because VA embraces a message of service each and every day. It is a mission we want to share with you and the Veterans we care for.
The spirit of volunteerism
Across VA, the Voluntary Service strives to meet the needs of America’s Veterans, and there are numerous opportunities for you to participate, no matter your expertise or training.
- The Physician Ambassador Program provides medical professionals with an opportunity to give back to the Veteran community.
- Student volunteers can be an important part of a VA medical center’s treatment team and provide a valuable element of caring for Veterans.
- The Compassionate Contact Corps is a virtual social prescription program for Veterans who may be experiencing loneliness or are socially isolated.
Depending on the needs at your local facility, there may be other ways that you can explore what it means to work at VA, so search our directory of VA facilities and reach out to the volunteer coordinator in your area.
A commitment to diversity
VA remains committed to showing that service can help unify Americans of different backgrounds and experiences, and our mission of service to Veterans knows no boundaries.
All Veterans are unique. By the individual experiences of the very people we serve, we know that health care is not one-size-fits-all. Embracing diversity in our patients ensures that we will be successful in fulfilling our mission.
In turn, we also know that diversity on our team is a strength, and our workforce should be an accurate representation of the Veterans we serve. Every individual who enters a VA facility must feel safe and valued, so we treat everyone with dignity, integrity, and respect.
By welcoming volunteers with different perspectives into our ranks, we provide everyone who comes through our doors the opportunity to share in a wider array of experiences.
Caring for the most diverse group of Veterans in history requires the assurance that everyone—employees, volunteers, and Veterans alike—feel included in the work that we do.
A path to service
Aside from providing valuable assistance to our Veterans, working as a volunteer at VA can have a lasting impact on your pursuit of a career and help make your unique perspectives a permanent part of our team.
“You should always include volunteer service [on your resume], especially if the volunteer experience relates to the position that you’re applying for,” explained Mike Owens, a national recruitment specialist and host of our weekly “Talk About It Tuesday” broadcast on LinkedIn. “Even though it’s not something that you got paid for, you should add that to your resume, because it shows that you have the experience.”
Even if the experience is not directly related to the job you want, you should still include it because volunteering at VA demonstrates something that could catch the eye of a hiring manager—that you already understand and support our mission.
Work at VA
Volunteers provide much-needed help throughout our facilities and make patients’ experiences more enjoyable. Bring your talents to our team.
- LEARN more about the volunteering at VA.
- READ about our commitment to diversity.
- SHARE in our mission of service.
- SEARCH for opportunities to join VA.
