The Watanabe Volunteer Center

Making a difference in the lives of people living with or affected by HIV and/or AIDS is what we do, and we welcome you to join us in fulfilling our mission. The volunteering process begins with visiting our website at gmhc.org and downloading our volunteer application and reviewing the current open volunteer roles.  The next step is to attend a Volunteer Open House which takes place the first Wednesday of every month at either 10:30am else at 6:30pm.  The morning session takes place in our 11th floor Training Room.  The evening session takes place in our 12th floor Lounge.    No reservations are necessary. 

The Volunteer Open House is an opportunity to understand our core values and services while exploring which of our three main departments appeal to you.  Further you will identify the current volunteer roles of your choice.  Next, an interview is scheduled.  Depending upon the volunteer role you choose, you will either move on to additional training or be placed in a department.  Thus begins your volunteering experience.  

Below are some current volunteers experiences with us at GMHC:

Dee Livingston, a 22-year volunteer veteran from Manhattan, has held various volunteer roles from being a Board member to facilitating men’s couples and bereavement group.  She represents the spirit of many of our volunteers.  Dee said of her most impactful moment as a volunteer:  “when I ran the [men’s] couples group in 1998, just at the beginning of that group, three men died.  Those guys allowed me into their lives (she pauses with a deep breath)…that was profound.  I went to their funerals with their surviving partners and that [being there] was truly a gift.”  Dee currently facilitates the evening Volunteer Open House.

Carmen Alvarez, a former paramedic and proud Queens Latina, has been volunteering at GMHC for 19 years.  She started in the Jerry Herman Theatre Desk providing free event tickets to our clients as well as accompanying them to the theatre. Carmen then chose a Kitchen assistant role helping our Dining Room Chef, Wilson Rodriguez, with food preparation. Ultimately she supported the AIDS Walk Department contributing to our fundraising efforts. She now assists the nutrition staff with administrative duties.  She is very loved by our clients and staff for her dedication and her sense of humor. 

“The beauty of our volunteer program” says Beau Edmond, the Center’s Volunteer Liaison, “is that caring individuals choose to support our mission, in any capacity, despite their busy lives.  This generosity and commitment fuel the spirit of our staff to continue the work that we do.  Ultimately our clients benefit and are so appreciative from our volunteers’ contributions and labor of love.”

Bruce Kerner, a clinical psychologist and yoga instructor, is among our newest volunteers.  During his two-month period, he states “It really makes me feel great to be giving back and sharing my skills to benefit others.    The clients are wonderful and really appreciate what I have to offer.  They love doing yoga together; I love teaching them.”