USA Medical Outreach

You don’t need an M.D. to give back through medical outreach programs in the US. Volunteers are needed to staff offices, participate in emergency relief, and connect with those in need.

American Red Cross National Headquarters, 2025 E St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20006 (☎800-733-2767; www.redcross.org/donate/volunteer). The American Red Cross is the gold standard for volunteers, with programs ranging from disaster services to youth volunteering and HIV/AIDS mentoring. The website’s volunteer-match service puts volunteers in touch with needy areas that can benefit from their specific skill sets.
Body Health Resources Corporation, 250 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10107 (www.thebody.com). “The Body” is an extensive, informative website about all things HIV/AIDS-related. Check out the “Helping and Getting Help” section of the website for a list of regional service organizations throughout the US that are in need of volunteers.
Meals on Wheels Association of America, 203 S. Union St., Alexandria, VA 22314 (☎703-548-5558; www.mowaa.org). Buy, prepare, and deliver meals to the elderly and the poor. Public awareness and research projects also available. Search the website for the region in which you would like to serve.
National Hospice Foundation, 1700 Diagonal Rd., Ste. 625, Alexandria, VA 22314 (☎703-837-1500; www.hospiceinfo.org). Hospices offer emotional and spiritual support for those close to death, as well as counseling for their families. Search by name, state, or ZIP code to find a US hospice in need of volunteers.
Partners in Health, 614 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 (☎617-432-5256; www.pih.org). Run by Dr. Paul Farmer, the subject of Tracy Kidder’s bestseller Mountains Beyond Mountains, Partners in Health focuses on health initiatives worldwide. In Boston, their Prevention and Access to Care and Treatment (PACT) serves the neediest HIV/AIDS patients in the area. Volunteers are needed as translators in the Boston office, and for other staff tasks.
Project Hope, 255 Carter Hall Ln., Millwood, VA 22646 (☎800-544-4673; www.projecthope.org). Project Hope celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2008, continuing to serve those in need of healthcare across the globe. In the US, volunteers for Project Hope can register on their website to work on disaster relief or special missions with the US Navy.
United States Office of Minority Health’s Resource Center, P.O. Box 37337, Washington, D.C. 20013 (☎800-444-6472; www.omhrc.gov). Provides one of the most comprehensive lists of US state, federal, and other service organizations.