Volunteer Categories

Be a friend to a family as they acclimate to living in America. As a new neighbor, you will experience a cross-cultural relationship with a family as you provide transportation, help them decipher mail, assist with budgeting, and familiarize them with English. This is a 12-month commitment with an average of 4 hours per month.

Introduce the newcomer to your community by showing them around town, help to find jobs, prepare for school enrollment, or assist with cultural orientation. You will work closely with Bethany staff who will assign duties to assist with the first 90-day resettlement period.

Before a refugee individual or family arrives in their new community, a home needs to be readied for them. Move-in helpers assist with assembling furniture, making beds, setting up the kitchen and bathrooms, stocking the pantry, or preparing a hot meal for their arrival.

Donations are needed frequently. Gift cards allow families to buy weather-appropriate clothing, highchairs, cribs, and other necessities. Some donations must be new, while others can be used. Couches, vehicles, and bicycles are a common request and can be gently used. Cribs or mattresses must be new. Contact us to make a monetary donation to directly support an individual or family or donate items.

This full-time, one-year commitment volunteer placement is a great way to build your resume and gain social work experience while capacity building within Bethany's resettlement programs enhancing the lives of refugees coming to the United States. AmeriCorps members at Bethany receive a monthly stipend, healthcare benefits, and are awarded education allowance to pay off student loans or help pay further education. Work your way into refugee cultural education, legal services, employment, IT support and community engagement. We can fit your skill set with our project needs!

Assist Ukrainian families who recently arrived in your community with food, housing, transportation, material needs, and case management support.

Teach or help practice basic English or a particular area of need. You will meet one-on-one, typically for 4-6 hours per month. Also a great need to help teens in foster care with school subjects.

Meet with clients and their interpreter at their nearest bus stop to show them how they can best use public transportation to get to work, grocery stores, medical offices, and around the city.

Provide transportation to individuals and families to medical, government, and Bethany appointments and other necessary locations. If you are using your own vehicle, mileage is reimbursed.

Spend time once a week with refugee teens being a positive role model.  Requires a 12-month commitment spending 4 hours per month with matched youth.

Form a small group of friends, co-workers, neighbors, or church members to be matched with a refugee family arriving soon. Co-Sponsorship is a longer term commitment (least six months) as your group will assist staff to meet refugees' needs upon arrival and help them to thrive in your new community. Training is provided by our staff so you are all prepared to offer support services.