Volunteer with CRIS

Volunteering with CRIS

We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the dedication and hard work of our volunteers. There are many ways to serve the refugee and immigrant populations of Central Ohio, including both group and individual opportunities.

Group Volunteer Opportunities

Our primary pathway for groups serving as volunteers together is called Welcome Teams. Welcome Teams are groups of 6-15 friends or faith community members who commit to walk alongside a refugee family in their first six months in the U.S. Anyone interested in joining or leading a Welcome Team may contact our Welcome Team Coordinator Teresa Gibson directly or sign up for a 15-minute informational meeting with her.

Individual Volunteer Opportunities

Buying groceries, transporting clients to medical appointments, teaching basic computer skills, moving furniture, tutoring future U.S. citizens—these are just a few of the amazing ways individual volunteers partner with CRIS to support refugees and immigrants here in the Columbus area. For full descriptions of each of our individual volunteer opportunities, see the list below.

Becoming a volunteer with CRIS is a simple three-step process…

Step 1: Register and attend a Good Neighbor Training.

Interested in getting involved with CRIS or learning more about refugee resettlement? The Good Neighbor training is the first step to becoming a volunteer; it’s also a great way just to learn more about refugees.

This is a two-hour intensive training led by CRIS staff that teaches the basic contexts of refugees in the United States, raises awareness of refugees’ valuable contributions, and provides a guide to building relationships with our new American neighbors. Trainings are hosted monthly, either in person at the CRIS office or remotely via Zoom. After registering, we’ll send you an invitation to the next scheduled Good Neighbor Training!

Step 2: Complete a background check and paperwork.

Upon completion of the Good Neighbor Training, all volunteers who interact directly with CRIS clients must complete a background check. (Select volunteer opportunities not involving direct contact with CRIS clients may not require a background check.) This step in the process typically takes 1-2 weeks.

Step 3: Find your fit and jump in!

Once a volunteer candidate has completed the Good Neighbor Training, background check, and paperwork, they work with CRIS staff to find the opportunity that best suits their skills and interests. See below for descriptions of current volunteer opportunities.

  • After 5 years in the United States, refugees are eligible to receive citizenship upon successful completion of their US Citizenship Test. In-home classes with adult learners are offered through our Citizenship Program. Each class is about 4-6 people in the home of one client, and focuses on studying for and passing the citizenship test. Classroom Volunteers assist the instructor in a structured classroom environment. (Requirement: 6-month commitment)

  • There are multiple opportunities to assist the populations CRIS serves on their journey toward English proficiency:

    Classroom Assistant: CRIS offers a variety of English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Each class has a primary instructor. Having only one teacher per class makes it difficult to attend to the needs of the students, so volunteer classroom assistants provide individual attention to each student to make their education more personal. Work may include teaching, creating lesson plans, assisting the teacher with activities, one-on-one conversations with the students, helping students with basic computer skills, and occasional field trips. (Requirements: 12-week commitment and daytime availability)

    In-Home Conversation Partner: In-home ESL tutors and conversation partners typically serve stay-at-home mothers, providing English instruction and conversation practice on an in-home, one-on-one basis. These sessions allow for a personal and relationship-building volunteer experience. Volunteers are encouraged to develop their own curriculum based on the learner’s needs. ESL teaching materials are available for volunteer use upon request. (Requirement: 12-week commitment)

    Make-Up Session Leader: In the event that a CRIS ESL student must miss a scheduled class, make-up sessions allow for students to stay on-pace in their learning. Make-up sessions are typically small and more personal. Volunteer make-up session leaders provide instruction and tutoring related to any lessons missed. Volunteers have the freedom to customize instruction based on student needs, and CRIS ESL teachers provide homework packets upon request (computers and smart projectors are also provided). Make-up sessions take place at the CRIS office 11 am - 12 pm, Monday through Friday.(Requirement: 12-week commitment and daytime availability)

  • Food security can be a significant challenge for the populations CRIS serves. There are multiple ways for community members to partner with CRIS in meeting these immediate needs.

    Grocery Gram Volunteers: When a refugee is in need of short-term food assistance, Grocery Grams volunteers play a vital role in meeting critical needs. This is a very flexible volunteer opportunity—those involved can choose to donate one week’s worth of groceries OR grocery gift cards to families in need of immediate help. (Requirements: ability to shop for groceries/grocery gift cards and deliver to CRIS with one week’s notice; grocery grams are not considered tax-deductible donations)

    Pantry Connectors: Volunteers serving in this capacity help to educate families and individuals about food pantries, enroll a household at a food pantry, and teach them how to access a food pantry on their own. This is an as-needed service, making it another flexible volunteer opportunity.

  • The Community Connectors Mentorship program pairs qualified and motivated mentors who can commit for one calendar year with middle/high school-aged refugee students as they learn the English language, attend school, and learn to adjust to life in Central Ohio. Mentors support the CRIS mission to empower refugees and immigrants through encouragement, education, and support as they become connected with their new communities.

    Mentors meet with mentees a minimum of one hour per week for an entire calendar year in school, community, and home-based environments. (Requirement: one calendar year commitment)

  • Volunteers in this capacity assist families and case workers move into permanent housing. This may involve moving furniture into homes and/or transporting household goods to homes from CRIS storage spaces. It may also involve picking up and dropping off larger donated items.

  • Volunteer office assistants contribute to the daily ins and outs of our resettlement office, including tasks such as completing routine forms for clients, filing and organizing paperwork, and helping in the reception area as needed. (Requirement: 12-week commitment and daytime availability)

  • Access to technology and tech literacy is incredibly important for refugees and immigrants for accessing language resources, school work, social networking, and more.

    Technology Mentors are contacted when a refugee is in need of assistance setting up a laptop/tablet or accessing online resources. Tech mentors may also volunteer to help set up laptops with valuable resources before they are given to new families.

  • Transportation access often presents significant barriers for refugee and immigrant populations, especially those who are newly-arrived.

    Transportation volunteers assist in driving refugees to medical, dental, and other necessary appointments. A list of appointments is sent to volunteers weekly and volunteer commitments can be made according to individual availability. (Requirements: access to a car; valid driver’s license and auto insurance; clean driving record; 12-week commitment; daytime availability)

  • Volunteer interpreters serve to meet language needs in a variety of settings, including orientations, scheduling appointments, and other CRIS-related activities as needed. Needed languages include Somali, Nepali, Arabic, Farsi, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Mai Mai, Tigrinya, and Oromo. If you speak a second language fluently that is not listed here, please apply and we will be in touch as needs arise.

  • A Welcome Team is typically a group of 6-12 people who partner with CRIS to walk alongside newly-arrived refugees through the process of learning about and successfully integrating into their new community. Whether a faith-based, civic, or education group, Welcome Teams act as guides, friends, and advocates to those newly arrived in the United States. Each team makes a 6-month commitment to a family. (Requirements: All members must undergo background checks, training, and orientation through CRIS.)

Have questions?

Contact us today.

  • Teresa Gibson

    WELCOME TEAM COORDINATOR

    Teresa mobilizes Welcome Teams of 6-12 people who are willing to commit to walk alongside newly-arrived refugees for their first six months as new Americans.

  • Flannery Rokeby-Jackson

    VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

    Flannery guides individuals interested in volunteering with CRIS through the process of training, background check, and finding the right-fit opportunity.