Wondering how collection events work and what kind of role you will play as a volunteer? Read through the questions and answers below, or email us at komentb@iu.edu.
Frequently asked questions about volunteering with KTB
If you have never volunteered for the KTB but are interested in doing so, add your name and contact information to the Interested Sign-up form.
If you are already a registered KTB volunteer and you wish to volunteer for the upcoming event, as soon as registration is available you can sign up using the Schedule a Volunteer Shift form.
Questions? Email us at komentb@iu.edu.
Events in Indianapolis are usually one-shift days. You’ll be asked to arrive at 7:30 a.m. and will be released between 3:30-5 p.m., depending on what role you’re assigned.
Events held outside of Indianapolis have two shifts available for volunteering:
- Volunteers are asked to arrive at 7:30 a.m. for the first shift, and will be released at 1 p.m. to go to lunch.
- If assigned to the second shift, volunteers will arrive in time to eat lunch first, if desired.
- They will start working their shift promptly at 12:30 p.m. and stay until 6 p.m.
These shifts and times may be adjusted for special events.
We will provide you with a Komen Tissue Bank T-shirt to wear. Please pair it with any bottom you find appropriate and comfortable.
You should wear comfortable shoes that are easy to walk in. Volunteers assigned to be surgical assistants, specimen runners, or lab volunteers must wear closed toed shoes.
Not at all! We do have several volunteer positions which must be filled by medical professionals, but about half of our volunteer positions need no medical experience.
If there is only one volunteer shift, we rarely allow volunteers to donate during the event they are working, as volunteers need to remain at their posts throughout the entire shift.
Many of our events, however, are structured for two volunteer shifts. If this is the case, you may donate during the shift you are not working. You can make an appointment like all other donors.
Most of our collection events are held at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center on the IU Indianapolis campus, just west of downtown. At these events, you can park in the adjoining parking garage at no charge. You will receive a parking voucher at volunteer check in.
When we travel to other cities, we do our best to have free parking but it is not always possible.
Though we do have some positions which can easily be performed by responsible teenagers, we do not encourage the participation of any children without the volunteer having made prior arrangements with our event manager.
Responsible individuals of all genders are welcome to volunteer. All tissue collections occur in closed examination rooms, ensuring the privacy and comfort of donors.
I don’t know a name, I don’t know a face, but I know the love & joy of helping another life by giving of oneself through research and sacrifice. I hope donating tissue & time will save someone someday.
Dawn & Pearl — Tissue Donor
About the Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank
The Komen Tissue Bank is the only repository in the world for normal breast tissue and matched serum, plasma, and DNA. We are transforming breast cancer research by offering normal, high-quality, richly annotated tissue samples to scientists worldwide.
