Welcome one another as Christ welcomed you”- Romans 15:7
Interested in becoming a volunteer? Complete the three items below: attached volunteer application, the Safe Parish background screening and video training, and send completion email.
1. Safe Parish Background Screening & Video Training
- Visit link above
- Click on Register
- Enter the passcode: Archindy2021
- Under City, select Indianapolis
- Under Parish/location select Catholic Charities
- Under Roles, select Volunteer
- Create a new username/password and complete required trainings and background check.
2. Notify Jane Bucher if you have any questions at lsheehan@archindy.org
![Volunteer](images/VolunteerWebsite.jpg)
Below are our current needs.
Circle of Care Volunteer Description
A Circle of Care (COC) Volunteer is a key component to refugee resettlement as a supplemental support to Catholic Charities Resettlement services. A COC will accompany and guide a refugee or refugee family who has been placed in their community. You will provide essential social, cultural, and educational support to assist in our brothers and sisters’ resettlement journey towards self-sufficiency.
You will be a part of a teaching newly resettled refugees to navigate their new community. You will act as a liaison between the family, Case Manager, and Volunteer Coordinator.
You will meet your family regularly throughout their resettlement journey, communicate weekly with the Case Manager, and meet monthly with the Volunteer Coordinator. You will receive support from Catholic Charities staff.
Donations To make a donation, please visit www.HelpCreateHope.org. Also see our Amazon wish list.
Citizenship Classes
Teach or help assist a teacher citizenship classes on-line or in-person. You will attend a teacher/assistant training and be provided curriculum and materials needed. The two hour classes meet twice per week for 10 weeks. If you are interested in on-line classes you will need access to a computer, a stable internet connection, and Zoom. There are three levels of literacy classes available to help prepare our students to pass the naturalization test. Minimum ten (10) week commitment.
Adult English Instructor or Class Assistant
Classes are in-person or online. Some classes are held two or three days per week. For online classes you will need access to a computer, a stable internet connection, and Zoom. Minimum commitment one (1) day per week for six (6) months.
Tutoring
Help tutor newly arrived clients practice English, Citizenship, or school studies. This is done in the client's home. Plan on a minimum of a weekly tutoring session. Minimum of six (6) months commitment.
Experiential Learning Guide
Excursions/event/field trips are offered at least quarterly for clients. More field trips will be made available as we have Guides available. These are to help our clients learn more about the community and get to know others. Field trips may be planned any day of the week, mornings, afternoons, or evenings based on the event avaible. Minimum commitment one (1) excursion.
Child Care
For some of our adult client classes, children will need to attend with the adult. We are looking for child care for some of these classes. Child care will be provided in the same location at the class. Two adults are required to be in attendance during child care. Currently we are seeking two people to help during English classes on Tuesdays an Thursdays 10am-12:00pm near 86th and Westfield Blvd.
MOVE CREW
Volunteers would work with a CCI staff member or experienced volunteer to move furniture, set up apartment with donated furnishings. This is typically done Monday through Thursday during business hours. Must be able to lift a minimum of 40 lbs. We may have advanced notice of arrival 1-14 days prior of client arrival. This opportunity is based on an as-needed.
Immigration Family Support
The Family Integration Support (volunteer) will help Refugees and Asylees to successfully integrate into the community and achieve personal goals. Refugees or Asylees will identify goals to work towards with their volunteers. Goals might include practical skills such, budgeting, banking, getting acquainted with modern technology, housing application assistant, job search assistant, food pantry resources, education services resources, or conversation partner provides the refugee/asylees the opportunity to practice their English-speaking skills. Frequency, days of the week needed, and times of the day needed are flexible. Please be able to commit to six (6) months.
St. Katherine Drexel Program
Join the Patron saint of refugees and immigrants, St. Katherine Drexel, in prayer by spiritually adopting a refugee or refugee family. Offer prayers for their safe arrival and graces needed to adjust to a new life in the United States. You could write letters of encouragement and prayers for them. We would match you with a family and you could meet them, with a staff member, at the airport for their arrival. This would be a good time to give them the collection of letters and prayers. This is a great way to live in solidarity with our sisters and brother refugees!
Donations Room Manager
Do you have excellent organizational skills? Prefer to work behind the scenes? We need someone to help manage our donations as they come in and work with the inventory we have to make sure we have the needed supplies to set up our newly arriving families in their apartments. This opportunity is at the Catholic Center, 1400 N. Meridian Street. Flexible schedule, but must be during business hours Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am- 5:00 pm.
To request a speaker about refugees, immigrants, and catholic social teaching for your small group, K-12 class, etc., contact Laura at jbucher@archindy.org
Interested in Donating Items? We have a partnership with St. Vincent De Paul Society. They help provide items for our newly arrived brothers and sisters. Please call SVDP directly with donations (317)687-1006.
For more information, please contact Laura Sheehan at lsheehan@archindy.org