VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement
Volunteers are a priceless asset to the Nation’s Veterans
and to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
National Volunteer Week Message
I wanted to take a moment to thank VA’s incredible volunteers for all you do to serve Veterans daily. We have such a noble charge – caring for every one of our nation’s heroes. VA could not provide its extremely high-quality level of service without you.
I also commend each of our hardworking Center for Development & Civic Engagement staff around the country who have been reintegrating volunteers as fast and as safely as possible, while planning both traditional and innovative ways to honor you.
I would be remiss if I did not spotlight Cynthia Davis, our 2023 VA Volunteer of the Year-Female; Brian Kinney, our 2023 VA Volunteer of the Year-Male; Ann Schulte, the Under Secretary for Health’s Red Coat Ambassador of the Year; and the recipient of the first Secretary Award for Excellence in Volunteering, Minta Davis.
Each of their honors are well-deserved, but just like you, there are tens of thousands more around the country who contribute honorably every day. Take time to watch the appreciation videos below as you truly deserve the recognition and accolades National Volunteer Week brings to you.
To you all, I doth my proverbial cap and wish you a fantastic National Volunteer Week.
Prince Taylor
Acting National Director
VA Center for Development & Civic Engagement
Volunteer Impact
Special Events Calendar
What's Your Why?
Volunteer Impact
- In Fiscal Year 2022, 22,321 Volunteers served more than 3.3 Million Volunteer Hours. Individuals and partnering organizations gave over $99.3 Million in gifts and donations. Value added to VA – more than $166 Million!
What's Your Why?
WHY would you want to be a VA Volunteer? One of the most important benefits of volunteering is the opportunity to explore and fulfill your passions. For many volunteers, that passion is serving Veterans. For others, their “why” is the chance to explore a new career field. For some, they like feeling like they are investing in an activity that is making a difference in their community.
Serving Veterans Amid a Global Pandemic
VA is grateful for the continued response to help America’s heroes during this global pandemic. Please be aware VA continues to engage volunteers in essential assignments and accept donations under new protocols that will ensure only safe, compliant materials enter our supply chain.
The VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) is following revised protocols in accepting volunteers and donations during the ongoing response to the coronavirus pandemic. All donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) (i.e., masks, gloves, gowns, face shields) must be evaluated and approved by a medical center director-appointed infection control committee designee or group, before entering the facility supply chain.
All donations of handmade masks should also be evaluated by the appointee identified above, and if approved the items must be sanitized and distributed with direction as to their use, with explicit clarification that handmade masks are not considered PPE.
All donations will be processed through CDCE in accordance with VHA Directive 4721 to ensure consistent tracking and acknowledgment of COVID-19 donations.
More about VA's COVID-19 Response Plan »