volunteer
How You Can Help01. HELP STABILIZE
Help stabilize the lives of refugee families by providing diapers, furniture, household essentials, weekly supplemental food, and transportation services. As a volunteer, you can help in the following ways:
Food Sorters help to portion bulk food and sort donated food into bags to be delivered to families. You are friendly and able to lift 50 lbs safely (or know your limits).
Thursdays 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
VOR Food Drive Thru for families with demonstrated need to pick up essential groceries every week. Come help hand out food!
Thursdays | 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
The Furniture Team brings stability to families by meeting basic needs via picking up, delivering, and installing furniture and household items. You are friendly and are able to lift 50 lbs (or know your limit) and team-lift furniture.
Due to uncertainty of donations, we text the team to see who is available to pickup and delivery furniture. You serve when you can!
Office Volunteers assist in various projects including food and furniture organizing, program logistics, making calls, social media, taking video and photos, photo and video editing, and other tasks as needed.
As Needed at Office Hours (Mondays through Thursdays 9:00AM to 4:00PM)
02. HELP INTEGRATE
Help families integrate into life in the U.S. by offering classes in English as a Second Language (ESL), workshops on American culture, history, and current news, consultation on the citizenship process, and mentoring to equip families with the knowledge and skills needed to work with local authorities and agencies in areas such as residence, medicine, education, and social services.
- ESL English Teacher
- ESL Teacher Apprentice
- Conversation Partner
- Family Care Assistant
- U.S. Culture & Resource Coach
Teach English (speaking, reading, listening, writing) to small classes grouped by level. You have taught English as a second language and/or demonstrated cross-cultural, multicultural, or intercultural experience. In person and online opportunities available.
Help ESL teachers and substitute for them when necessary. You want to learn and gain experience from an experienced ESL teacher to help refugees gain English speaking and reading proficiency.
Help refugees improve their English speaking through structured and informal conversational methods. You love people and starting conversations, but enjoy listening to people even more!
For a season, journey with one or more refugee families under the direction of a VOR staff. As needed, you may help with deliveries, giving rides for appointments, or coaching families in everyday life skills (e.g., grocery shopping, bus system, applying for community college classes). You are a mature, patient Christian with the ability to follow direction, honor boundaries, work closely with a team, understand your limitations, and be able to connect mentees with external resources or professional help when appropriate.
Share tips and guidelines for navigating everyday life in the U.S. Topics include: housing, schooling, transportation, health and wellness, banking, media and communication, and more.
03. HELP THRIVE
Help families thrive by providing job coaching towards a stable career, creating space for kids and youth to build character skills, expanding social networks through events with diverse participants and backgrounds, empowering individuals through mentoring, and providing service opportunities that empower families to give back to the community.
Help students strengthen in a specific acedamic area. You enjoy working with children or youth and are knowledgeable in the subject matter (most frequent requests are in Math and Reading) your student needs help. In person and online opportunities available.
Help refugees become more competitive in the US labor market. You possess professional expertise and are passionate in helping others grow in their interviewing, networking, and communication (written and verbal) skills. In person and online opportunities available.
Are you fluent in Arabic or Farsi or Pashto and have a passion for supporting others in their spiritual journeys of discovering the grace and truth of Jesus Christ?
Most refugees are limited in their job and life options simply due to not having a car in Orange County. Many walk 1 hour each way to bring their young kids to school. Help individuals who are learning on the driving simulator or practicing behind the wheel.
