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High school-aged students interested in health care have a new opportunity to explore and learn with hands-on experiences through Mercy Southeast’s new volunteer program, Varsity Volunteers.
Over six to eight weeks this summer, Varsity Volunteers will have the opportunity to provide care in several departments throughout Mercy Hospital Southeast. Mercy will also host lunch-and-learn social events with nursing and hospital leaders every Wednesday to share information about different areas of care with student volunteers.
“We are excited to bring this new learning opportunity to students in our area,” said Benjamin Meyr, manager of operations and Mercy Volunteer Services – Cape Girardeau. “Volunteering in a hospital not only introduces students to the medical environment and gives them valuable experience interacting with patients, it helps them learn about being part of a health care team and helps them understand what caring for others looks like in various roles.”
Students interested in applying for Varsity Volunteers must be at least 14 years old by May 1, 2026, be able to commit 40 to 48 total hours of volunteer care throughout the summer, and be available on weekday afternoons, evenings or weekends. Mercy's program is flexible around school schedules.
To join the Varsity Volunteers program or volunteer at Mercy Southeast, call 573-519-4865 or visit mercy.net/varsityvolunteers. The summer 2026 application deadline is May 1, and orientation will be the week of May 25. Volunteer hours are typically completed between June 1 and July 24. All students will receive a letter of appreciation at the end of their volunteer time confirming their completed hours.
