Volunteer with CRIS

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 provide 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)

ESL 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.)