While it may be the sweetest volunteer gig at Sutter’s CPMC, it’s far from the only one.
Each year during National Volunteer Week, Sutter Health celebrates the compassionate individuals who give their time to support patients, families and care teams across our hospitals. From helping visitors navigate hospital hallways to bringing comfort to older adults, volunteers are the heart of healing environments.
At Sutter’s CPMC in San Francisco, however, one role gets more applications than any other – and it involves the tiniest patients of all.
“It’s a dream assignment,” says Wendy Armstrong, a longtime CPMC volunteer. “The moment you hold one of those little ones, your whole heart melts.”
Sutter CPMC’s baby cuddler program began in 2018.
They’re talking, of course, about the hospital’s baby cuddler program – a beloved part of volunteer services in the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU, at CPMC’s Van Ness campus. Designed to offer additional comfort to preemies and other newborns during their hospital stay, the role requires special training, a gentle touch and a whole lot of love.
CPMC’s NICU nurses say the volunteers are an extension of the care team. “Sometimes parents can’t be here around the clock. That’s where our cuddlers step in,” says Tina Lubas, a NICU nurse manager at the hospital. “They provide soothing sounds, skin-to-skin contact and a calming presence that helps babies thrive. It’s powerful.”
While cuddling may be the sweetest role, it’s far from the only one. Across Sutter’s 24 Northern California hospitals, volunteers support patients in many ways – from delivering books and activities to managing gift shops, assisting with therapy, or providing companionship through programs like Sutter’s Hospital Elder Life Program, or HELP.
Learn about all volunteer opportunities at Sutter Health here.
HELP prevents delirium and functional decline in older adults. Trained volunteers offer daily orientation, meal and mobility assistance and friendly conversation to keep patients engaged and safe. As Rebecca Metrick, a HELP volunteer, shares, “Every week I meet people who traveled the world, started businesses, started families. I walk the halls with them, and they tell me their stories and their perspectives. It’s such an amazing opportunity. People think that volunteering is selfless, but I feel like I’m the one winning.”
“Our volunteers are an irreplaceable part of our Sutter mission,” says Tara Ray, manager of CPMC’s volunteer services. “Whether they’re rocking babies or supporting older adults, every one of them is helping someone feel seen, cared for and less alone.”
Volunteering is a valuable gift to patients, the community and yourself. It offers opportunities to connect with others, build friendships and develop new skills while sharing existing ones.
And if you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a NICU baby cuddler – get in line, says Ray. There’s a waitlist!
Volunteer Impact
Sutter CPMC is supported by more than 360 dedicated volunteers who serve across a wide range of departments and programs. These individuals generously give their time at CPMC’s three acute care hospitals in San Francisco – Davies, Mission Bernal and Van Ness – as well as at CPMC’s Pacific Heights Outpatient Campus and Coming Home Hospice program.
Among them are 42 volunteers with HELP, who support patients ages 75 and older at the Mission Bernal and Van Ness campuses. An additional 19 volunteers are currently completing their orientation.
In 2024 alone, CPMC welcomed 665 new volunteers who collectively contributed 45,218 hours of service – equivalent to 1,884 days of care and support.
