Frequently Asked Questions
BJC Employee Community Volunteerism Website
About Volunteering
Why should I volunteer through the BJC employee community volunteerism website?
This website, created in collaboration with the United Way of Greater St. Louis, provides helpful resources for you and your colleagues to find opportunities to volunteer together or as individuals and make an even greater difference within our local communities. Service helps to strengthen our sense of belonging and connection to others, reinforcing the idea that we are all in this together. Plus, volunteering can provide you with a sense of personal achievement and satisfaction, helps develop new skills, and increases your social health and well-being.
How does volunteering benefit the community?
Donating time as a volunteer supports local organizations in delivering their services to help improve the lives of individuals within the community. Service to and in support of local organizations helps build connections with people from different backgrounds. These connections create a sense of community and belonging. Volunteering also shows communities our commitment to the collective impact and improvement of our region beyond the walls of our health care institutions.
Volunteer Opportunities
Which community volunteer opportunities are available?
The BJC volunteer site includes a variety of ways to support those in need across our region. All the events listed in the “BJC Volunteer Opportunities” section serve our local communities with a special focus on economic health and well-being, healthy eating and active living, infant and maternal health, school outreach and youth development, as well as the needs identified in our Community Health Needs Assessments.
Additional ways to volunteer across the BJC service area can be found on the site under the header “Regional Volunteer Opportunities” as identified by the United Way. You can also click the blue button at the bottom of the site to access all volunteer opportunities available through the United Way Volunteer Center.
I would like to suggest volunteer events. Who can I contact?
Please send your suggestions for events or partner organizations to community_volunteer@bjc.org and a team member will follow up with you.
Registering to Volunteer
Who is eligible to volunteer for the opportunities listed on the website?
Volunteering opportunities are available to all team members and their families and friends.
Is my personal information required to sign up on the BJC volunteer website?
To volunteer, you will need to create a volunteer account with United Way, which requires your date of birth, phone number, and BJC credentials. No other personal information will be collected. Once you create a volunteer account, you may log in and use the "My Account" tab to manage your personal information and volunteer registrations.
My department is doing a volunteer event as a team-building activity. Can I use this website to look for opportunities?
Absolutely! The website is intended to help BJC employees and departments find volunteer opportunities aligned with BJC’s strategic areas of focus. Volunteering connects to our BJC value of Teamwork by building collaboration, creativity, communication, and the ability to organize as a team. It also cultivates cross-organization camaraderie, and departments experience a sense of pride and accomplishment from working together as a team. If your department wants assistance in securing and planning volunteer opportunities that focus on BJC’s Community Health Improvement areas of focus, contact community_volunteer@bjc.org. BJC and the United Way will work collaboratively with trusted agency partners to secure impactful in-person opportunities for your team, including managing communication and logistics.
If my department wants to do a volunteer event, are we required to volunteer at one of the opportunities listed on the website?
No, employees may volunteer or support an activity not listed on the BJC volunteer website. Organizations listed on the website include nonprofit organizations, educational establishments, and more. You may seek any other opportunities that interest you on the United Way Volunteer Center’s website at STLVolunteer.org.
Volunteering Logistics
Will I get paid to volunteer during work hours?
BJC’s collaboration with United Way provides the opportunity for teams to volunteer together through planned engagements which may occur during work hours. If your supervisor plans a team volunteer event during your regular work hours, you will be paid your regular pay. If you voluntarily choose to volunteer for an event that is scheduled during your work hours, you will be required to request time off and use PTO (approved in advance by your supervisor).
Will I get paid if I choose to volunteer on my day off?
If you voluntarily participate in a service event outside of your regular work hours, you will not be paid by BJC, even if the event is a BJC-affiliated volunteer opportunity.
Can I track my volunteer hours?
Yes, one of the helpful features of the BJC volunteer site is the ability to track your volunteer hours. For example, if you need to track your volunteer hours for professional associations and you take part in a BJC-sponsored service event listed on the BJC volunteer website, you can track your volunteer hours by logging in to STLVolunteer.org and selecting “Account Overview” from the navigation, which provides a snapshot of all of your volunteer activities.
I still have questions. Who can I contact?
Please send your questions to community_volunteer@bjc.org and a team member will follow up with you.
