Youth Volunteers Shine in Roanoke!

For the past 8 weeks, our Roanoke campus has been dotted with the light blue polos and smiling faces of our youth volunteers! Each year, Carilion Volunteer Services hosts the Summer of Service Program, providing rising ninth graders + high school students with a unique opportunity to explore healthcare, develop professional skills, and contribute to Carilion's mission through hands-on service and mentorship. From the Tanglewood Center to Riverside 3 and throughout the halls of Roanoke Memorial Hospital, these students have been spreading kindness and making a lasting impact on our patients, visitors, and staff.

This year's Roanoke cohort welcomed 62 student volunteers, with nearly half returning from last summer. New this year was our Volunteer Leaders Program, which gave returning volunteers the opportunity to take the next step in their leadership journey. These 10 student leaders received additional training and spent the summer mentoring new volunteers, leading Hospitality Cart teams, and helping foster the welcoming culture of service that defines the program.

With three days remaining, our youth volunteers have already contributed more than 2,000 hours of service to Carilion. Their enthusiasm, compassion, and commitment have touched so many and remind us that the future of healthcare is bright. The 2026 Summer of Service program concludes this Friday, August 7th. If you happen to see one of our youth volunteers around the hospital this week, please take a moment to thank them for choosing to spend their summer serving our community in this way. We couldn't be more grateful for the impact they've made!

A big thank you to every department, mentor, and staff member who welcomed these students and helped make this another unforgettable Summer of Service!