Student Volunteers
Childcare & Pet care
Providing healthcare workers in-home childcare, pet care, and errand running services
Our student volunteers provide childcare, pet care, & errands t0 healthcare workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. Healthcare workers will be matched with a small group of students based on availability and preferences noted on their respective application forms. By pairing multiple students with one family, we can ensure families receive the care they need without overwhelming students. This model also limits the number of people entering each family’s home in an effort to comply with social distancing recommendations. Students and healthcare workers will then create group communication to ensure that all childcare and pet care shifts are accounted for. We currently have 20 healthcare families receiving full-time or supplemental childcare/pet care through our program. Please see the FAQ page for further details.
We are currently accepting student volunteers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center to assist with child care services, pet care, and errands. Please review the following before applying:
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Please do not apply to volunteer if any of the following apply:
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Had a fever or shortness of breath in the past 2 weeks
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Traveled outside of the United States or to high risk areas in the United States in the past 2 weeks
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Have tested positive for COVID-19
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Are not up to date on vaccinations
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Prior to applying, please review the following Infection Prevention Guidelines for COVID-19 from UNMC.
Community Mask Sewing Program
Supporting hospitals and our community through the production and transport of cloth masks
In partnership with Nebraska Medicine, student volunteers produce and distribute mask-sewing kits to over 300 community sewing volunteers. Kits that include all needed materials and instructions are dropped off at community members' doorsteps, with student volunteers returning to pick-up completed masks the following week. This program has facilitated the production of over 20,000 masks for Nebraska Medicine and organizations throughout the Omaha community. Student volunteers will be assigned to a geographical distribution area based on their preferences noted on their application. Deliveries will be made one time per week, and students may be asked to inventory the supplies and finished masks that they transport each week.
PPE Donations and Distribution
Streamlining the collection and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE)
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In conjunction with the Nebraska Medical Association and Metro-Omaha Medical Society, students facilitate the donation and distribution of manufactured personal protective equipment. We have distributed 40,000 face shields, 1,600 N95 & KN95 masks, and countless surgical masks/gloves/attire/sanitizing items to 131 clinics, hospitals, and federally qualified health centers in Omaha and greater Nebraska. We are not asking for student volunteers for this program at this time.
Support for Public Health Departments
Aiding public health departments with contact tracing and day-to-day operations
In coordination with UNMC's College of Public Health, student volunteers are paired with public health departments state-wide to support contact tracing, communications, data analysis, and various other initiatives as needed. UNMC CoRe recently joined forces with the College of Public Health's Student Response Team to establish a unified home for student engagement involving
COVID-19 related Public Health initiatives. Time commitment and volunteer role will vary depending on the health department and their needs at that time. All requests received thus far have been able to be completed remotely, so this is a wonderful opportunity for students unable to volunteer on-site for other opportunities.