Volunteer at Little Red Door

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Little Red Door Cancer Agency!

We are currently not taking applications for individual volunteer opportunities. Check back in the fall, or see the opportunities available below!

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Are you looking to expand your personal experience with Little Red Door? We are seeking volunteers to help in the following areas 

Door to Wellness Volunteering Opportunities  

    • Are you a sewer and would love to lend your expertise? Little Red Door is looking for individuals who would be willing to come pick up fleece material with a guide to make port pillows for our clients to use to protect their ports from irritation  

    **Please reach out if interested in picking up fabric/sewing template Monday-Thursday 9:30am-4:00pm

Group Volunteering Opportunities  

    • Location: Indianapolis Office or Muncie Office

      Group activities and service projects are available upon request.

      Group sizes range from 4 to a max of 20 individuals. All ages are welcome, but groups with volunteers under the age of 18 must be supervised by an adult. Group will be required to collect individual name and emails into an excel document and shared with volunteer manager prior to arrival. Projects include but are not limited to: no sew fleece blankets, care package assembly, card writing, boutique bags, garden clean up. Please connect with Robyn directly to discuss group size, project budget, and goals.


Interested in those opportunities or have any questions? Email Robyn Burroughs, Development Officer and Volunteer Manager, here.

care package no-sew blankets

Every new Little Red Door client receives a care package to help them through their cancer journey. These care packages include things like notepads and game books, cards, candies, lotions, socks, and more. Each care package also comes with a handmade, no-sew blanket.

If you and/or group would like to donate no-sew fleece blankets to bring comfort to Little Red Door clients, please reach out to Robyn.   General guidelines to help you get started: 

  • Little Red Door accepts 72" x 60" blankets.

  • Smoke-free, pet-free home. 

  • Odor and Scent-free. Please refrain from using scented garbage bags. 

  • Non-seasonal patterns (we want to use these blankets all year!).

  • Free from wording: religious/spiritual or inspirational messages.

  • Free from cancer specific patterns.

 

Watch the video tutorial below for step-by-step instructions on how to make a care package blanket.

port pillows

Chemotherapy port pillows are distributed to patients who are going through chemotherapy treatment and have a portacath placed beneath their skin. The pillow attaches to a seat belt to provide cushion between the port and the seat belt, making car rides more comfortable for patients.

If you and/or group would like to make port pillows to bring comfort to Little Red Door clients, please reach out to Robyn.   General instructions to help you get started:

Supplies

  • Two 7” x 4” pieces of 100% cotton or hypoallergenic fabric

  • Fiberfill for the inside of the pillow

  • Sew-on Hook and Loop tape 3.5” long

  • Rotary cutter and mat, or scissors

  • Sewing machine

Directions

  • Baste the hook-and-loop tape onto the right side of one piece of fabric with a 1/8” seam

    • Place the soft part (aka loops) of the tape on the long edge of the rectangle about halfway down and sew it onto the fabric

    • Place the hook side face down along the edge of the opposite side of the fabric and baste it with a 1/8” seam

    • Fasten the pieces of hook-and-loop to each other

  • Place fabric on top of each other with the right-side in. Clip or pin the two pieces together if you’d like

  • Using a 1/2” seam allowance, sew the two pieces together, leaving a 2” opening on the short side to allow space for adding the filling

  • Turn the pillow right-side out and stuff with fiberfill. Do not overstuff the pillow as this will be too firm for patients to use. Push the filling far enough into the pillow so the opening can be pinned and sewn closed using a whip or top stitch. Remove any pins.