Volunteer Services
(239) 332-9510

What can you do to help?

There are many ways that volunteers can help in improving the health and wellbeing of persons in Lee County. Some of these include provision of direct care by licensed health professionals both in their own private offices and in indigent clinics. There are also many opportunities for non-medical personnel to contribute their time and talents.

► Licensed health professionals

• Non-profit clinics:
  Medical volunteers can treat patients on-site at the health department, the Salvation Army’s Primary Care Clinic and Interim Care Center, the Senior Friendship Center, and Project Dental Care. Retired physicians, nurses and dentists may obtain limited licenses with which they can provide uncompensated care to the indigent.

• The Volunteer Health Care Provider Program; (section 766.1115, F.S.) gives health care providers the opportunity to volunteer and use their skills for helping others without having to worry about liability. This statute extends legal protection if a lawsuit results from volunteer services. For further information about this program, please telephone (239) 332-9510.
  

• Publishing or printing skills are needed to operate our Reisograph, a printing machine used for newsletters, pamphlets, and forms.
• Clerical assistance is always in demand, as are interpreters for our Spanish and Haitian population.
• Outreach programs are always in need of volunteers to help with teenage pregnancy prevention, injury prevention, prevention of tobacco use by youth, and chronic diseases.
• Immunization Clinics by assisting with paperwork and controlling crowd traffic. The Rotary and Kiwanis clubs are long time volunteer partners in this program..
• The WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Department recruits volunteers for its Breastfeeding Buddies program. Volunteers trained through this program work on a one-to-one basis with new mothers and their infants, lending support and encouraging breastfeeding throughout the first six months of an infant's life, thereby ensuring a healthy start to a healthy future.
• Donation of goods from churches and service groups. Infant layettes, stuffed animals, baby blankets and quilts, and many other home-made items are donated to the health department. These gifts are very much appreciated by the grateful families who cannot afford to purchase such items. Favorites in the Immunization department are the finger puppets crafted by a women's church group. These cute, tiny dolls help ease children's fears during immunizations.

For more information, please submit your Volunteer Feedback or call (239) 332-9510.