Volunteer
Although we now have a small staff, volunteers still greatly outnumber staff at Ithaca Welcomes Refugees. And how wonderful, since volunteers are a built-in support network for our new neighbors as well as IWR ambassadors in the community!
IWR holds new volunteer orientation sessions 2-3 times per year. If you are interested in volunteering, please peruse the roles listed below and complete this form. Please know that it may be some weeks before we contact you about an upcoming orientation session.
Welcome Home
Welcome Home volunteers focus on setting up a comfortable and safe home, helping to coordinate donations of furniture for a family’s apartment and other apartment setup activities, and helping with ongoing donation drives as needed, for items such as diapers or winter clothing.
Response Projects
IWR provides most assistance to new families or individuals through Response Teams: groups of 2-4 volunteers who are focused on long-term support for families and tailor their support to each family’s specific needs. Response Teams provide a flexible range of services such as helping with job searches, arranging for interpretation, accompanying newcomers to appointments, filling out forms, and school enrollment for children.
Global Roots Play School
Volunteers supplement the activities of Global Roots teachers in providing early childcare to refugee and immigrant children aged 18 months to five years at our play-based school.
Housing
Housing volunteers help IWR’s refugee partners find apartments to rent. They perform apartment searches, help newcomers navigate the local rental market, attend viewings, and act as advocates in identifying appropriate places to live.
Driver Pool
A pool of background-checked and DMV-checked volunteers offer rides to new arrivals for infrequent appointments when public transportation is not a viable option. The vast majority of rides are local but occasionally rides to Syracuse for immigration-related matters are needed.
Interpreters
Volunteer interpreters are a necessity for IWR’s work. We currently need interpreters who speak the following languages: Dari, Haitian Creole, Karen, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, and Ukrainian.
Communications
People with interviewing, writing, graphic design, illustration, photography, videography, and audio/video editing experience are invited to assist IWR staff in creating engaging, sensitive, mission-driven content.
Events
Events volunteers assist with things like tabling at area festivals, helping promote events, and providing on-site coordination during events.