Volunteer Opportunities
Community Refugee and Immigration Services’ (CRIS) mission is to help refugees
and immigrants reach and sustain self-sufficiency and achieve successful
integration into the Central Ohio Community. Thank you for your interest
in contributing to the success of our community’s refugees and immigrants.
Many refugees and immigrants find their first few months in the U.S. to be a very
challenging experience. Thank you for your interest in joining us in our mission
to assist refugees and immigrants in achieving and sustaining self sufficiency.
Your time and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated!
If you are interested in volunteering please sign up for one of our monthly orientations by sending an
RSVP to volunteer@cris-ohio.com. Volunteer Orientations are held from 5:30-7:00pm on the first
Wednesday of each month at 4889 Sinclair Rd, Suite 111, Columbus, OH 43229. Prior to the
orientation, please also complete and send the Volunteer & Intern Application by e-mail to
volunteer@cris-ohio.com, by fax to 614-840-9718, or by mail to 4889 Sinclair Rd, Suite 111,
Columbus, OH 43229. Thank you!
Current Volunteer Opportunities
1.) Refugee Co-Sponsorship
Act as guides, friends, and advocates to those newly arrived in the U.S. Your faith, civic, or
educational group can take part in making an important difference in the lives of newly arriving
refugees through Refugee Co-Sponsorship. The goal is to assist refugees, as necessary, to become
self-sufficient as soon as possible. From the day a faith, civic, or educational group decides to co-
sponsor a refugee, it works in partnership with the sponsoring agency, Community Refugee and
Immigration Services (CRIS). CRIS assists co-sponsors by providing instruction, information, and
advice on an ongoing basis.
Time Commitment: Refugee Co-Sponsors are expected to participate in training prior to the family’s
arrival and to be actively involved for at least 90 days after the family’s arrival.
2.) Language Partner
Assist an immigrant or refugee as they learn the English language, search for employment, and learn
to maneuver Central Ohio. Language Partners join us in our mission to empower refugees and
immigrants through encouragement, education, and support as refugees and immigrants become
connected with their new communities.
Time Commitment: Language partners are expected to assist their refugee or immigrant language
partner at least weekly for a minimum of 90 days.
3.) ESOL Classroom Assistant
Actively tutor limited English speaking adults as they learn the English language. ESOL Classroom
Assistants work with a CRIS ESOL instructor in one of CRIS’ classrooms, with various locations across
Central Ohio. Placement is based on the instructor’s need and the availability of the volunteer.
Time Commitment: At least one 2.5 hour class a week for at least 8 weeks. ESOL classes meet for 2.5
hours a day Monday thru Thursday, generally during morning and daytime hours.
4.) CRIS Services Support
Assist staff with projects or tasks in the office as assigned. This may include, but is not limited to,
driving and/or accompanying clients to appointments, welcoming clients to the office, answering the
phone, filing, secretarial tasks, sorting donations, and short term projects.
Time Commitment: Minimum 4 hours a week for 8 weeks during CRIS office hours of Monday thru
Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.
5.) Organize a Donation Drive
Coordinate a “Welcome Basket” for a newly arriving refugee family. Because refugees flee their homes
to escape persecution, they often arrive with few possessions and are in need of basic goods to set up
their first home in America. Individuals as well as faith, civic, and/or educational groups are invited to
donate a complete “Welcome Basket”, though we welcome one bundle or a combination of kitchen,
bathroom, bedroom, and/or food bundles.
Time Commitment: Great one-time commitment that positively impacts newly arriving refugees.
Welcome Baskets can be delivered to 4889 Sinclair Road, Suite 111, Columbus, OH 43229 Monday
thru Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm or Friday 8:30am-2:30pm. If the donating individual/group is interested
in delivering donations directly to the refugee family, this can be coordinated.
Donation Guidelines: We welcome monetary donations and in-kind donations. At this time, our urgent
needs include monetary donations and the “Welcome Basket” items. We also welcome new and gently
used bed frames, children’s toys and clothes, TV’s, DVD/VCR players, computers, and microwaves.
Donations can be delivered to 4889 Sinclair Road, Suite 111, Columbus, OH 43229 Monday thru
Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm or Friday 8:30am-2:30pm. As a non-profit organization, CRIS can provide a
tax reimbursement form upon request.
Unfortunately, at this time we are unable to accept adult clothing or large furniture donations. If you
wish to donate furniture, please contact Furniture Bank of Central Ohio at 614.272.9544.
Internship Opportunities
There are also openings for CRIS interns to work on a variety of opportunities depending on interest.
All provide an excellent set of skills and knowledge for those interested in international issues,
immigration, refugee and asylee rights, working in a multi-cultural setting, social work and more. At this
time, all positions are unpaid, but we can provide documentation of volunteer or internship hours for
course credit. We are currently accepting applications for internships.
To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@cris-
ohio.com. Qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview. Please note that there are often more
applicants for internship positions than there are positions. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept all
qualified applicants. Preference will be given to applicants whose skills and experience match CRIS’
current intern needs and demonstrate passion and dedication to CRIS' mission.
and immigrants reach and sustain self-sufficiency and achieve successful
integration into the Central Ohio Community. Thank you for your interest
in contributing to the success of our community’s refugees and immigrants.
Many refugees and immigrants find their first few months in the U.S. to be a very
challenging experience. Thank you for your interest in joining us in our mission
to assist refugees and immigrants in achieving and sustaining self sufficiency.
Your time and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated!
If you are interested in volunteering please sign up for one of our monthly orientations by sending an
RSVP to volunteer@cris-ohio.com. Volunteer Orientations are held from 5:30-7:00pm on the first
Wednesday of each month at 4889 Sinclair Rd, Suite 111, Columbus, OH 43229. Prior to the
orientation, please also complete and send the Volunteer & Intern Application by e-mail to
volunteer@cris-ohio.com, by fax to 614-840-9718, or by mail to 4889 Sinclair Rd, Suite 111,
Columbus, OH 43229. Thank you!
Current Volunteer Opportunities
1.) Refugee Co-Sponsorship
Act as guides, friends, and advocates to those newly arrived in the U.S. Your faith, civic, or
educational group can take part in making an important difference in the lives of newly arriving
refugees through Refugee Co-Sponsorship. The goal is to assist refugees, as necessary, to become
self-sufficient as soon as possible. From the day a faith, civic, or educational group decides to co-
sponsor a refugee, it works in partnership with the sponsoring agency, Community Refugee and
Immigration Services (CRIS). CRIS assists co-sponsors by providing instruction, information, and
advice on an ongoing basis.
Time Commitment: Refugee Co-Sponsors are expected to participate in training prior to the family’s
arrival and to be actively involved for at least 90 days after the family’s arrival.
2.) Language Partner
Assist an immigrant or refugee as they learn the English language, search for employment, and learn
to maneuver Central Ohio. Language Partners join us in our mission to empower refugees and
immigrants through encouragement, education, and support as refugees and immigrants become
connected with their new communities.
Time Commitment: Language partners are expected to assist their refugee or immigrant language
partner at least weekly for a minimum of 90 days.
3.) ESOL Classroom Assistant
Actively tutor limited English speaking adults as they learn the English language. ESOL Classroom
Assistants work with a CRIS ESOL instructor in one of CRIS’ classrooms, with various locations across
Central Ohio. Placement is based on the instructor’s need and the availability of the volunteer.
Time Commitment: At least one 2.5 hour class a week for at least 8 weeks. ESOL classes meet for 2.5
hours a day Monday thru Thursday, generally during morning and daytime hours.
4.) CRIS Services Support
Assist staff with projects or tasks in the office as assigned. This may include, but is not limited to,
driving and/or accompanying clients to appointments, welcoming clients to the office, answering the
phone, filing, secretarial tasks, sorting donations, and short term projects.
Time Commitment: Minimum 4 hours a week for 8 weeks during CRIS office hours of Monday thru
Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.
5.) Organize a Donation Drive
Coordinate a “Welcome Basket” for a newly arriving refugee family. Because refugees flee their homes
to escape persecution, they often arrive with few possessions and are in need of basic goods to set up
their first home in America. Individuals as well as faith, civic, and/or educational groups are invited to
donate a complete “Welcome Basket”, though we welcome one bundle or a combination of kitchen,
bathroom, bedroom, and/or food bundles.
Time Commitment: Great one-time commitment that positively impacts newly arriving refugees.
Welcome Baskets can be delivered to 4889 Sinclair Road, Suite 111, Columbus, OH 43229 Monday
thru Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm or Friday 8:30am-2:30pm. If the donating individual/group is interested
in delivering donations directly to the refugee family, this can be coordinated.
Donation Guidelines: We welcome monetary donations and in-kind donations. At this time, our urgent
needs include monetary donations and the “Welcome Basket” items. We also welcome new and gently
used bed frames, children’s toys and clothes, TV’s, DVD/VCR players, computers, and microwaves.
Donations can be delivered to 4889 Sinclair Road, Suite 111, Columbus, OH 43229 Monday thru
Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm or Friday 8:30am-2:30pm. As a non-profit organization, CRIS can provide a
tax reimbursement form upon request.
Unfortunately, at this time we are unable to accept adult clothing or large furniture donations. If you
wish to donate furniture, please contact Furniture Bank of Central Ohio at 614.272.9544.
Internship Opportunities
There are also openings for CRIS interns to work on a variety of opportunities depending on interest.
All provide an excellent set of skills and knowledge for those interested in international issues,
immigration, refugee and asylee rights, working in a multi-cultural setting, social work and more. At this
time, all positions are unpaid, but we can provide documentation of volunteer or internship hours for
course credit. We are currently accepting applications for internships.
To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@cris-
ohio.com. Qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview. Please note that there are often more
applicants for internship positions than there are positions. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept all
qualified applicants. Preference will be given to applicants whose skills and experience match CRIS’
current intern needs and demonstrate passion and dedication to CRIS' mission.
