At bone marrow donor registry drives, we add potential lifesavers to the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry to increase blood cancer patients’ chances of finding a matching bone marrow/stem cell donor. Volunteers play a vital role at these drives because they help us spread the word and recruit new potential donors. 

Volunteering Environment 

Bone marrow registry drives are held everywhere, including festivals, fairs, restaurants, workplaces, schools, and more! Depending on the location, the drive may be loud and bustling, or it may be calm and serene. It is important to be comfortable in both environments as a volunteer. 

Note: Wear clothes that are comfortable and proper to weather conditions because we may be outside where it could be hot or cold.  

After volunteering at 5 drives, you will be provided with a There Goes My Hero branded shirt. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Educate passerby on the importance of joining the bone marrow donor registry 
• Answer questions people may have about joining the bone marrow donor registry 
• Facilitate the swabbing process 

Requirements 

• Willingness to learn and take direction from staff and other volunteers 
• Friendly and outgoing 
• Ability to stand for periods of time 

Training 

Attend a Virtual Volunteer Information Session and Virtual Bone Marrow Registry Drive Training Session to be prepared for any bone marrow registry drive volunteer opportunities.  

During Meals with Heroes, volunteers come together to prepare and serve meals to the patients and caregivers at the Johns Hopkins Hackerman-Patz Patient and Family Pavilion in Baltimore. Many of those who stay at the pavilion live there for weeks at a time, far from their homes, to receive treatment, and providing meals takes the burden of meal preparation off them for one night, making the already difficult experience, a little less difficult. 

Meals with Heroes occurs every third Wednesday of the month. If you have a group or team that is interested in cooking meals for Hackerman-Patz's patients and caregivers, please email andrea@theregoesmyhero.org to join our wait list. This is a great opportunity for team building and making a difference in the lives of cancer patients, and we hope you consider volunteering! 

Volunteering Environment 

In the kitchen, teamwork is everything. Volunteers work together to prepare mouthwatering dishes, an array of sides, and indulgent desserts. During some downtime, volunteers also create heartfelt cards of encouragement to motivate patients and caregivers to keep fighting. Once it’s dinner time, volunteers plate patient and caregivers’ dishes and serve them to their room! 

Note: Volunteers do not need cooking experience. Aprons are provided but your clothes may still get messy — wear what you are fine with potentially getting dirty.  

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Prepare a main dish, side, and dessert 
• Create cards of encouragement 
• Serve meals on to plates and to patients and caregivers' rooms 

Requirements 

• 6 to 8 volunteers 
• Willingness to purchase ingredients 

Cards of encouragement are created to motivate patients and caregivers in their fight. We distribute these cards at Johns Hopkins Hackerman-Patz Patient and Family Pavilion during Meals with Heroes or include them in care bags. 

Volunteering Environment 

These cards of encouragement can be made at home or in There Goes My Hero’s office! Supplies are provided. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Design and craft cards with encouraging words and graphics 

We assemble care bags filled with goodies for the cancer patients at the University of Maryland Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Hackerman-Patz Patient and Family Pavilion.  Each bag is assembled with love, encouragement, and support to show each patient that they are surrounded by a caring community.

Items we place inside these bags include, but are not limited to:

• Sleep masks
• Fuzzy socks
• Hand warmers
• Head wraps
• Lotion
• Lip balm
• Tooth brushes and tooth paste
• Earplugs
• Sensory items (e.g., stress balls, fidget toys, etc.)
• Kleenex
• Package snacks (e.g., chips, crackers, popcorn, etc.)
• Sweets (e.g., cookies, candy, fruit snacks, etc.)
• Bottled water and bottled juices
• Mints and gum (e.g., Lozenges, hard candy, etc.)
• Cards of encouragement

*Please note that you are responsible for supplying the items, including the bags.*

Volunteer Environment 

These bags can be made at your workplace or in There Goes My Hero’s office! 

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Place goodies in bags and ensure that each bag has one of each goodie 

Andrew’s Laughing Gas (ALG) is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing much needed laughter to hospitalized pediatric patients in memory of Andrew Merceir, a 10-year-old boy who unfortunately passed away in 2019 after his eight-month battle with blood cancer. One of the ways ALG spreads joy to these children who go through so much is by donating stuffed farting animals. On their behalf, we occasionally host stuffing parties to assemble these farting animals to bring smiles to children’s faces.   

*This opportunity occurs on a needs basis* 

Volunteering Environment 

Be ready to hear some farts and see lots of stuffing. We host the stuffing parties at workplaces, schools, and our office! 

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Test farting machine to check it works 
• Insert stuffing inside of animal skin, ensuring the head, neck, arms, legs, tail, etc., are full but not tight 
• Tie bag with farting machine remote around the stuffed animal’s arm or leg 

Requirements 

• 4 to 8 volunteers 
• Clean hands 

Volunteers play a crucial role in our office, lending their support with tasks ranging from writing ‘thank you’ letters to making calls to support our mission. 

Volunteering Environment 

There Goes My Hero’s office may be small, but it is a lively space where a whirlwind of activities unfolds.  

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Write ‘thank you’ letters to donors 
• Organize the storage room 
• Decorate the office 
• Other