Volunteer with CRIS

There are multiple opportunities to assist the populations CRIS serves on their journey toward Safety and Stability. Click the underlined title to learn more about each opportunity!

Housing Orientation: Housing Orientation Volunteers work with our clients to develop critical skills related to their housing stability. These skills include lease education, digital literacy, housing maintenance, and budgeting.

Food Pantry Connectors: Food Pantry Connectors will work with our partnering pantries to deliver food boxes to clients facing food insecurity every other week. Volunteers may also be asked to help clients learn about accessing the local food pantry close to their residences.

There are multiple opportunities to assist the populations CRIS serves towards the goal of self-sufficiency. Click the underlined title to learn more about each opportunity!

Transportation: Access to transportation is one of the biggest barriers our clients face. Transportation Volunteers can help clients get to and from appointments!

COTA Guide: The ability to use the public transportation system is one of the biggest steps our clients can take towards self-sufficiency. Volunteers can help clients learn how to use this public resource!

Employment Helper: Volunteers can help our Employment Team by taking clients to hiring and orientation events with some of our partner employers.

School Support: Volunteers help families navigate the school system, teach kids how to use the bus, help parents learn about the online portal, and more!

There are multiple opportunities to assist the populations CRIS serves on their journey toward Successful Integration. Click the underlined title to learn more about each opportunity!

Community Connectors Mentorship: 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)

English Conversation Partner: Many of our clients are enrolled in ESL classes or have started a job, but most still want additional English practice. Conversation Partners meet with individual clients or families to help them improve their English proficiency.

ESL Classroom Assistant: Volunteers work alongside ESL teachers to provide extra assistance during English classes at the CRIS office or a local library.

Office Assistant: 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.

Event Worker: We host a number of events for CRIS including our annual 5K Fundraiser and World Refugee Day. We often need volunteers to help coordinate the event and make the day flow!