Volunteer Job Descriptions
Adopt a Refugee family
Befriend and support a refugee family in the resettlement process. Give practical assistance, community orientation, friendship and/or help provide basic needs in consultation with World Relief and the refugee’s sponsor relatives. Level of commitment varies.
Adopt a Refugee family for Christmas
Keep this in mind for the Holiday Season – be a blessing to a newly arrived refugee family by meeting their specific needs during the Christmas Season. You will be matched with a family and given a list of some of their special requests. Most of our families request winter clothing as they are arriving from parts of the world where warm clothing is never needed. This is great for individuals, families, or small groups.
Assist in finding jobs for Refugees
Work with our employment counselors to find employment for refugees. Help refugees look for employment, fill out applications, and conduct mock job interviews. Offer encouragement and answer questions.
Befriend a Refugee
When refugees arrive, the American life can seem overwhelming. How do you make a doctor’s appointment when you barely speak English? And when bills arrive and you don’t know how to read the bill, let alone pay it? This is what it means to befriend a refugee – take them to the grocery store, teach them how to pay bills, make appointments, take their kids to the zoo, carve pumpkins with them, learn about their culture and teach them about yours – be their friend! We ask for at least a 3 month commitment, visiting the family once a week. However, if you can commit longer, your refugee will greatly benefit from your friendship.
Chauffeur a Refugee
When refugees first arrive, there are numerous appointments that they must attend, such as going to the Social Security office or registering for school. They need someone to pick them up from their homes, take them to the appointment, and help them fill out any necessary paper work (as most of them have limited English), and then drop them back at home. This is one of our most common needs… we are always looking for drivers. It is a fun cultural exchange and a huge help to our case managers.
Citizenship Class Tutor
Help someone gain their US citizenship! Classes will be held one night a week, on a weeknight, for two hours, and will begin in mid-September. Volunteers tutor students on the 100 civic questions and answers, basic English grammar and writing skills, and citizenship interview preparation.
ESL Teacher or Tutor
Join Somali Adult Literacy Training (SALT). Make friends with a Somali man or woman by teaching or tutoring in a structured classroom environment. Tutors don’t need any experience, just a willingness to learn and make friends. Lead classroom teachers should have ELL training and experience. Minimum commitment of six months required. For current list of SALT class times and locations look on our website (SALT page under “For Churches”).
Furniture Mover
We arrange for newly arrived refugees to “shop” for furniture at the Bridging warehouse to outfit their new homes. We need individuals to help load and unload the trucks and help assemble furniture. This is a great opportunity for individuals or small groups. Please let us know if you have access to a truck or large van. Groups in the past have also rented a U-haul for the day.
Gather Basic Needs Items
There are many ways that you can help meet the practical needs of newly arrived refugee families!
1. Buy groceries for a refugee family. Buying groceries for a newly arrived refugee family is a great way to bless them and welcome them to the U.S. Upon arrival, refugees have very little money and often do not receive public assistance and food stamps until a full month after arriving. Providing groceries for the first week or weeks is a huge need.
2. Provide a “Welcome Kit” for refugees. Welcome a refugee to America by putting together a welcome kit – all the basic household necessities that are needed to start a new home – towels, bed linens, pots and pans, cleaning supplies, dishes, etc. Refugees often bring only one bag of possessions when they come and giving them the gift of a welcome kit is such an act of love! (see “Donate Household Items” page on this website.)
3. Coordinate a Resource Drive. Organize the collection of Gift in Kind resources (pots and pans, winter coats, “Welcome Kits”, school supplies) through your church, work, school, neighborhood or small group. Contact World Relief’s Volunteer Coordinator to determine current needs or suggest some ideas of your own.
Homework Helper
After being enrolled in school, many of the children and young adult refugees need help with their home work. Volunteers willing to tutor in any/all subjects are welcome.
Refugee Life Ministries Volunteer
Volunteers are members of teams from churches involved in Refugee Life Ministries. These churches each come along side a newly arrived refugee family during their first year in the U.S. Coming along side includes setting up an apartment, financially subsidizing rent, transporting family members to appointments, tutoring conversational English and befriending family members. For more information, see the RLM page under “For Churches”.
