Volunteering at The Children's Inn

The Children's Inn has a dynamic volunteer program with nearly 250 volunteers currently on our staff. There are many ways to share your time and talents with The Inn and its families. 

Inn volunteers are involved in almost every operational aspect of The Children's Inn. Our managers, professional staff and veteran volunteers provide your training. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old for the long-term positions listed below. 

A sampling of volunteer opportunites include:

  • Clerical/Administrative: These behind-the-scene activities make daily operations run smoothly.  Volunteers support The Inn staff through data processing, filing, typing, mailings or runs to the post office and the bank.
     
  • Gardeners: Our green thumb volunteers maintain our beautiful landscape, flowerbeds and indoor plants, which help create the relaxing atmosphere of The Inn.
     
  • Grocery Run Drivers: Many of our visiting families do not have their own transportation. Each evening, using The Children's Inn van, volunteers drive families to and from the grocery store so they may shop for food and other essential items.
     
  • Roamer: Volunteers maintain our well-stocked kitchens, and help to achieve an overall attractive and comfortable home-like atmosphere for resident families.
     
  • Welcome Desk: Volunteers are our registration and concierge desk all in one. They answer phones, take reservations, check families in and out of their rooms, orient new families to The Inn and answer questions about everything from airport transportation to visits to the zoo.

If you are interested in volunteering on a regular basis, please contact our Director of Volunteers and Community Outreach, Laura King, at 
lking@mail.nih.gov or 301-451-9454 or fill out our Volunteer Service Application.Volunteers may check the Volunteer Newsletter for more information.


Wally Horner, Beloved Volunteer

The Inn has suffered a tremendous loss. Wally Horner, our long time dedicated volunteer died suddenly on August 2 of a probable heart attack at his home. For the past 17 years, Wally's boundless energy and generosity of spirit have filled every corner of The Inn and the hearts of all who had the great honor to know him. Wally arrived at The Inn every morning at 5:30. He stocked the linen closets, the food pantries, and morning teacart. Wally followed the progress of many youngsters, giving them a needed hug to boost their spirits on their way to treatment each day.  For all he did so selflessly, he was the recipient of the Lifetime Presidential Service Award. Wally will be remembered as a grandfather figure to many young children. He always had a twinkle in his eye and a kind word for anyone who greeted him. He was the beloved bingo 'caller' every other Tuesday. Wally recently said about volunteering, "....I've been here, working for The Children's Inn, being with the children and the families. You know, [there's] nothing like it. Perfect, couldn't be better...just like heaven, couldn't be any nicer." For all we have lost, we will also remember what we received.

To send a condolence message to his family, mail to: The Children's Inn at NIH, ATTN: The Wally Horner Family, 7 West Dr., Bethesda, MD 20814 or lking@mail.nih.gov


Happy girls