Volunteer Opportunities

Use your organizational skills and abilities to assist the CWS Houston program staff and legal team at our office in various ways such as filing paperwork, tracking data, and general office assistance.
Varied hours, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Speakers of numerous languages (including but not limited to: Spanish, Dari, Arabic, French) are needed for in person and/or remote translation and interpretation to ensure refugees’ full understanding and participation in our programs and in the community. Document translation may be accomplished remotely and emailed to staff.
Varied hours.

Welcome Kit Coordinator:  Organize your friends, family, small group, or church members to gather kitchen items, cleaning necessities, school supplies, or hygiene items to assemble into Welcome Kits for newly arriving refugee families.
One-time commitment.

Clothed By Faith Teams:Working in collaboration with the organization Clothed by Faith, we deploy volunteers to the CBF donation site in Katy to spend a few hours sorting and “shopping” for clothing to fulfill the clothing requests made by our clients. This can be done by an individual or even better as a group!
Once per month, 2-4 hour shift.

Transportation Assistant: Use your car to provide necessary transportation to medical appointments, the social security office, school enrollment office, and job-related training during regular business hours. Refugees need help to learn how to use public transportation or walk to follow-up appointments in the future in order to promote their self-sufficiency. 
Varied commitments needed, from 4 hrs/month to 4 hrs/week

Food Pantry Pick up and Client Delivery: Transportation is a significant barrier for many of our clients who are newcomers with children. We need people who will work with our staff to pick up food that has been pre-arranged at a local food pantry and bring it to our client's home.
Varied commitments needed – 2 hours average per shift.

Furniture Mover/Handyman: CWS staff is looking for energetic volunteers (available during regular business hours or weekends) who can assist us to move and/or set up donated furniture. When basic setup and repairs are required, we need the help of handy individuals who can quickly solve household problems before welcoming a new family into their first home in the U.S.
1-2 times/month for about 4 hours

Tour Guide/Friendship Partner: Use your creativity to help a new refugee family to learn more about their new community. Show them around town; take them on field trips to local markets and historical places of interest. Teach them how to use the bus and access local routes easily. As the family learns more about their community, they will learn independence and feel a sense of familiarity with and ownership of their new home. 
Varied hours with option of weekend or evening

Family Mentor: You know how challenging, and often times confusing, paying your bills can be. Stop in weekly to check in on a family and help them sort the mail; understand how to pay bills; shop at the grocery store with the many, many options available; or simply walk with the children to the park. We will pair you with a family who has just arrived or who is in need of a friend.
Varied hours, with the option of weekend or evening

Health Advocate:  Many refugees did not have access to high quality healthcare in their prior living situation; therefore, it is important that their first experiences with the U.S. system are smooth and understandable. You will work closely with CWS staff to accompany refugees to medical appointments, advocate with healthcare providers to ensure refugee medical needs are addressed, assist to fill prescriptions, and coach families toward healthy living practices. 
Varied hours

Personal Finance Coach:  The U.S. banking system can be a difficult wall to climb over for refugees who lived in “cash-only” societies. As a personal finance coach, you have the opportunity to assist a family in creating a budget and to teach them about opening a checking account, automatic deposit from their employer, writing checks, and paying bills.
Varied hours