My First Day Volunteering at the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Institute
Walking into the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Institute for my first day as a volunteer, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I knew I would be helping patients and staff, but I didn’t realize how much I would learn in just a single day, not only about the hospital itself, but about the incredible people who work there.
The morning began with a scavenger hunt that was meant to help the new volunteers become familiar with the building and get to know one another. I was on a team with my friend Anvita, a girl from my school named Shruti, and two other volunteers. What started as a simple orientation activity quickly became a fun way to break the ice.
We started on the fifth floor, where we walked around the hallways, introduced ourselves to staff members, asked them their names, and completed different scavenger hunt tasks. Along the way, we took pictures with different inspirational quotes displayed around the building. From there, we explored the eighth, ninth, and tenth floors. By the time we reached the top floor, we were rewarded with an incredible view of the surrounding area. It was a nice reminder that even in a place dedicated to treating serious illnesses, there were still moments of beauty.
After finishing the scavenger hunt, we returned to the first floor to meet with the rest of the volunteers and receive our assignments for the day. I was placed in the Radiation Oncology unit, located in the basement.
Originally, my role was pretty straightforward. My main job was to check in with the patients in the waiting area and ask if they needed anything, like water or blankets. However, I quickly discovered there was much more I could do to help.
Before approaching any patients, I introduced myself to the nurses and asked if there was anything needed. They immediately welcomed the extra help and asked me to assemble patient care kits for individuals receiving radiation treatment. Each kit included a patient belongings bag, an arm cuff, and the familiar yellow non-slip hospital socks. I ended up preparing twenty of these kits, and while it was a simple task, it helped keep everything organized for incoming patients and allowed the nurses to focus on providing care.
One thing that stood out to me throughout the day was how genuinely kind and appreciative the staff were. Every nurse I spoke with made me feel like I was part of the team, even though it was my very first day.
Later, I helped prepare patient rooms after treatments. I stripped the beds, disinfected the surfaces, remade the beds with fresh linens,and restocked each room with gowns, blankets, and the treatment kits I had assembled earlier. Watching each room transform from used to completely ready for the next patient gave me a new appreciation for everything that happens behind the scenes in a hospital. The work that keeps a healthcare environment running smoothly often goes unnoticed, but it plays an essential role in every patient’s experience.
As I began spending more time in the waiting area, I had the chance to interact with several patients. One small moment that stuck with me involved the infused water the unit offered. It was flavored with cucumber and strawberries, and I joked with one of the patients that it probably just looked fancy without actually tasting like either ingredient. We both laughed after trying it and realizing that it genuinely tasted like cucumber and strawberry. It was such a simple conversation, but it reminded me that even little moments of humor and connection can brighten someone’s day, especially in a hospital setting.
One of my favorite parts of the day wasn’t even one of my assigned responsibilities, but simply talking with the nurses. While I worked, one nurse shared stories about her daughter, who is my age and loves creating art. She told me about her daughter’s volunteer work at both the local library and a Chinese school, and it was inspiring to hear about another student using her time to give back to her community.
Later, the conversation shifted in a completely different direction. A nurse had been reading a book about the ethics of eating animals, which sparked a discussion among several staff members about animal welfare, food choices, and different perspectives on the issue. It wasn’t a conversation I expected to hear during a hospital shift, but I found it fascinating. It reminded me that hospitals aren't just places where medicine happens, but they’re also places where people connect, share ideas, and build relationships during the quieter moments of the day.
Around lunchtime, all of the volunteers walked over to the main Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Lunch vouchers were provided, so I decided to make the most of my five-dollar budget by grabbing tuna sushi and a pack of seaweed. Somehow, everything came out to less than five dollars, which felt like a small victory. More importantly, lunch gave us all a chance to relax together. We spent the break talking, laughing, and getting to know one another better. By then, the group already felt much more comfortable than we had just a few hours earlier.
After lunch, I returned to Radiation Oncology, where I continued preparing rooms, helping patients in the waiting area, and chatting with the nurses whenever there was a quiet moment. Even though my tasks seemed small on their own, I realized that each one made someone’s day a little easier, whether it was helping a patient feel more comfortable or giving a busy nurse one less thing to worry about.
At four o'clock, all of the volunteers met together again for a debrief. We reflected on our experiences, shared what we had learned, and wrapped up our first day before heading home.
Looking back, what surprised me the most was that volunteering wasn’t just about completing tasks. It was about creating a welcome environment for patients, supporting healthcare workers, and contributing to a team whose shared goal is helping others. For the first day, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I left the hospital with a greater appreciation for the countless people whose hard work keeps it running every day, and I’m excited to continue volunteering at the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Institute. I’m looking forward to learning even more from the patients, nurses, and staff members I have the privilege of working alongside.