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In addition to sponsorship, there are many ways in which you
can help out a refugee family. These include: Minutes,
Money, Materials, or
Muscle . Curious? Read on for details
on how you can help!
Minutes:
The Ecumenical Refugee and Immigration Services is in need of volunteers to aid us in
the resettlement process. A donation of minutes, your own time, is always
appreciated:
- Volunteer as a Case Aide.
- Help shop, prepare the rooms, and stock the pantry
in a new arrival's first apartment.
- Provide transportation from the airport and/or to
the many appointments that new arrivals face without a car.
- Become a mentor or “first friend” to a new family,
and help them learn how to live in America .
- Become an ESL tutor and help teach a refugee English.
- Help out at the ESL office, answering phones, stuffing
newsletters, assisting staff, etc.
- Become an employment mentor and help particularly
challenging cases find employment.
- Offer your services as amateur photographer (or
any other talents you may have) and provide family photos for a new family.
These are just a few volunteer ideas. You probably have many
other ideas on ways in which you or your group can volunteer your services.
Give us a call, and we'll work together to find the perfect way for you
or your organization to help.
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Money:
A donation of money in ANY amount is the most versatile gift you
can give:
- A $10 contribution will help ERS mail out about
25 Newsletters so that we can help educate the community on the refugee's
plight, or it will buy a humidifier to help with a refugee child's asthma.
- A $25 contribution will buy a bus pass that allows
a refugee to get to his or her job or it will pay for a month's telephone
bill during a time of financial struggles.
- A $50 contribution will buy 1 or more prescriptions
for refugees without adequate medical coverage or it will buy hearing
aid batteries for a year.
- A $100 contribution will buy groceries to stock
the kitchen for family's first week in America , or it will buy 2 pairs
of glasses for the children.
- A $1000 contribution will help buy a car to help
a refugee family get around town, or it will pay a month's rent and utilities
for a family struggling to make it until their first paycheck.
Other ways to provide financially?
- Give one of our refugees a job, or refer our employment
managers to job opportunities you know of.
- Provide tickets and coupons for entertainment, such
as movie tickets, Museum and Zoo passes, Elitch Garden 's tickets, etc.
- Provide gift certificates for much needed items,
such as haircuts, groceries, clothing, etc.
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Materials:
Material goods are extremely valuable to ERS and the refugees
they serve. Pickup can be arranged and you will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Here are just a few items always needed:
- Furniture in good shape
- Beds and linens
- Dishes, pans, utensils
- Office supplies
- Clothing (donate directly to the Neighborly Thrift
Shop at 3360 South Broadway)
- Current calendars
- Radios, TVS, tape recorders, phones, microwaves,
alarm clocks in good working order
- Bikes
- Cars
For donation information please contact:
Donation Coordinator
Joyce at (303) 860-0128 Ext. 1130
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Muscle:
Wondering how muscle can come in handy? We always need:
- People to help move furniture into new apartments
- People to help keep our storage unit neat and orderly
For more information, please contact Genevieve Cruz, ERIS Sponsorship
Director/Volunteer Coordinator, at 303-860-0128 ext:1112 or email at Genevieve@ersden.org .
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