For Students

Already a student volunteer?

The Student Experience

Lori’s Hands student volunteers are paired together to make weekly visits to community members living with chronic conditions. Students help with a range of day-to-day activities and learn from clients about the realities of living with a chronic illness.

Become A Volunteer

Here are some of the benefits students have realized through their involvement:

  • Insight into and empathy for the human experience of living with a chronic condition
  • Improved communication skills
  • Deeper understanding of and connection to the local community
  • Job shadowing and better awareness of health care in action (e.g. home-based physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, etc.)
  • Service hours applicable to current or future academic and professional activities and pursuits

96

%
of students feel confident in their ability to effectively communicate with older people they don't know personally

92

%
of students feel connected to the people who live in the community surrounding their university's campus

96

%
of students feel knowledgeable about challenges with day-to-day activities that affect people living with chronic illness

Testimonials

“
Lexi

“My Wednesdays with Gary have become one of my most special experiences within college, and I am forever thankful that we had crossed paths in a way I had never seen coming.”

“
Annie

“Lori’s Hands has shaped the way that I view myself and my community. I have met such wonderful people through this program, many of whom live ten minutes away from my dorm. I now understand my community on a deeper level, and my connection to it grows stronger with every Lori’s Hands visit.”

“
Stephanie

“Lori’s Hands has taught me that friendship knows no age. From eating apples at the kitchen table to telling stories on the couch, every visit with Tom has been a memorable one. Lori’s Hands is to thank for a friendship that has had countless positive impacts on us both, and one that will surely last beyond the club!”

“
Kyla

“I feel so satisfied after I visit my client. Little things mean a lot, and sometimes something as simple as a friendly conversation can put a smile on their face (and mine). Just seeing my client’s face light up when I walk in makes me know I am exactly where I should be!”

Enrollment Fee

New student volunteers are asked to make a one-time $75 enrollment contribution when they join. It’s a single ask for your entire time with Lori’s Hands — you’ll never be asked again, no matter how many semesters you volunteer (many students join for their entire college career!).

What it covers: 10+ training videos with quizzes, covering our core training program, your first client visit, loneliness, community resources, caregiving, equity, and nutrition, your background check, a Lori’s Hands T-shirt, Student Volunteer Portal access consisting of local resources, a resume and professional profile template, and first-visit conversation starters, Lori’s Hands app access for client assignments and logging visits, staff support & more.

If the fee is a barrier, it shouldn’t stop you. Some students ask family or loved ones to cover it, and some universities and programs have scholarship or activity funds that apply. If neither of those works for you, email contact@lorishands.org and we’ll talk through options. Cost should never be the reason a student can’t volunteer with us.

Note for programs and faculty: Some university partners prefer to cover enrollment for their students directly.

Become a Volunteer

Are you a community member wanting to support?

Our trust-based model only works because people in our community step in for those who can’t pay. If you’re here because you believe in this work — a family member, a former client, a student alum, a neighbor, a longtime supporter — you can sponsor someone directly. You’re welcome to note a client or student you’d like your sponsorship to support, and we’ll honor preferences whenever we can. Otherwise, your gift goes where it’s needed most.

  • Sponsor a student enrollment fee — $75
    Covers a new student volunteer’s training, background check, app access, and t-shirt, so cost is never the reason a student can’t serve.
  • Sponsor a client membership — $250
    Covers a full year of weekly student visits and companionship for a client who needs support at a lower level.
Sponsor a Student or Client