Volunteering Opportunities

To View our Volunteer Opportunities, click here.

Application Forms

Before filling out an application, please follow Step 1 and Step 2 carefully.

Step 1. Select the appropriate role you will have as an LFS volunteer:

  • Non-Mentor
  • Non-Mentor w/Transportation
  • Mentor
  • Mentor w/Transportation

Step 2. Print all application documents related to your desired volunteer assignment, fill them out fully, and scan/e-mail them to refugeevolunteer@lfsrm.org (or mail/drop them off at the LFS office) if you wish to volunteer for LFS.

For Non-Mentor applicants, you will need the following:

Volunteer Application (PDF, 108kb)

Confidentiality Agreement (PDF, 88kb)

Health Risk Acknowledgment (PDF, 95kb)

Non-Mentor Authorization to Investigate (PDF, 95kb)

For a Non-Mentor, but will be providing transportation, you will need the following in addition to the above forms:

Auto Insurance Requirements (PDF, 81kb)

For Mentor applicants, you will need the following:

Volunteer Application (PDF, 108kb)

Confidentiality Agreement (PDF, 88kb)

Health Risk Acknowledgment (PDF, 95kb)

Mentor Authorization to Investigate (PDF, 106kb)

Child & Elder Abuse Reporting (PDF, 86K)

For a Mentor who will also be providing transportation, you will need the following in addition to the above forms:

Auto Insurance Requirements (PDF, 81kb)

Find Your Volunteer Opportunity

First Steps

Once you find something that interests you, RSVP to the next New Volunteer Orientation that works with your schedule. Available orientation dates can be found on the Care Guide home page.

Parking

Beware of parking at the Downing Office. Cars are frequently towed, so please be mindful before you park in the parking lot. We highly suggest parking on the street. Click here for a street parking map.

GROUP OPPORTUNITIES

Denver Debut Day. Sponsor a fun day in the city with a refugee family or individual to welcome them to Denver.

Gift Wrapping & Delivery. Fantastic group or individual opportunity for the holiday season. Wrap & deliver gifts to newly arrived refugees. Bring your own wrapping paper.

Thrift Store Shopping. Raise money and purchase items at local thrift stores to be placed in refugee homes when they first arrive to the US.

Warehouse Cleaning. Great for churches, youth groups, business groups. Monday-Friday opportunity unless special arrangements are made.

GROUP/INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Cultural Mentoring Teams. Six-month commitment, must be done in a team of 4-10 people. See the Cultural Mentor Program page.

*3D Cultural Mentors (Individual). Three-month commitment, one-on-one. Can be in a group of 2.

*Needed: male applicants. Most single refugees are male.

INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Airport Pickup Volunteer. Must have very flexible schedule, Monday-Friday opportunity.

Baby Welcome Baskets. Create a welcoming basket for babies.

Bus Orientation Volunteer. Help refugees learn how to use the RTD.

Drop-In Volunteer. Volunteers to help welcome refugees when they stop by the office.

Filing & Shredding Volunteer. Exactly like it sounds. Monday-Friday opportunity, must sign Confidentiality Agreement.

Gift Wrapping & Delivery Volunteer. Fantastic group or individual opportunity for the holiday season. Wrap & deliver gifts to newly arrived refugees. Bring your own wrapping paper.

Processing & Placement Volunteer. High volumes of volunteer interest and engagement require help with volunteer management.

Recruitment Volunteer. Community outreach to get people involved.

Special Events Volunteer. Events include the annual Welcome Lunch, appreciation events, and Connecting Cultures events.

*Transportation Volunteer. Needed Monday-Friday during business hours. Flexible schedule and access to car seats for children a plus.

*Required: Adequate car insurance coverage & valid driver's license.

Welcome Meal Volunteer. Provide a culturally appropriate meal for a newly arrived refugee or refugee family.

GROUP OPPORTUNITIES

Denver Debut Day

Volunteer duties:

  • Be matched with a refugee/refugee family.
  • Select a day and Denver-related activity (sporting event, mountain trip, museum, zoo, etc).
  • Introduce Denver, share a fun experience, and help with cultural orientation.
  • Can be an individual or group opportunity.

Requirements:

  • Must complete a background check.
  • Provide all transportation, meals and absorb any costs related to the chosen Denver Debut Day activity.

Gift Wrapping & Delivery

Volunteer duties:

  • Be available when the Refugee Gift Giveaway dates are selected (usually first or second week in December).
  • Go to designated gift wrapping location.
  • At check-in, collect information for individuals you will be wrapping gifts for.
  • Select three gifts for each individual.
  • Wrap, wrap, wrap.
  • Deliver gifts.
  • If refugees are not home, return gift to wrapping location. Repeat steps 2-6.

Requirements:

  • Bring your own wrapping paper. Scissors, tape, and labels will be provided.

Thrift Store Shopping

Volunteer duties:

  • Send groups to thrift store locations.
  • Shop for needed items (pots & pans with lids, body towels, hand towels, sheets, blankets, silverware, lamps, chairs, & other specified items).
  • Keep receipts.
  • Bring items to the Downing office to the Warehouse.
  • Fill out donation form & attach receipts.

Requirements:

  • Raise money to purchase items.

Warehouse Cleaning

Volunteer duties:

  • Clean, organize, and shelve donated items in the LFS warehouse.

Requirements:

  • Ability to lift items 20 lbs. or more.
  • Ability to stand for long periods of time.
  • Depending on the month, adequate clothing to keep warm.
  • Closed-toed shoes.
  • Bring water & food as needed.

GROUP/INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Cultural Mentoring Teams

Volunteer duties:

  • Offer newly arrived refugees friendship and welcome.
  • Assist a newly-arrived refugee family in learning self-sufficiency skills including teaching English, financial literacy, practical life skills, and employment skills.
  • Visit 1-2 times per month.
  • Commit 3-4 hours per month.
  • See the Cultural Mentor Program page for more information.

Requirements:

  • Attend a cultural mentor training.
  • Complete all required forms.
  • Team must have a designated Team Leader to facilitate communication between LFS & DRM and mobilize team to meet program objectives.
  • Be able to commit to a six-month commitment.
  • Be willing to work on a team and abide by all other program requirements.

3D Cultural Mentors (Individual)

Volunteer duties:

  • Offer newly arrived refugees friendship and welcome.
  • Assist a newly-arrived refugee family in learning self-sufficiency skills including teaching English, financial literacy, practical life skills, and employment skills.
  • Visit 1-2 times per month.
  • Commit 3-4 hours per month.

Requirements:

  • Attend a cultural mentor training.
  • Complete all required forms.
  • Complete one Denver Debut Day during the mentoring period.
  • Be able to commit to a three-month commitment.
  • Be willing to abide by all other program requirements.

INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Airport Pickup Volunteer

Baby Welcome Basket

Bus Orientation Volunteer

Drop-In Volunteer

Volunteer duties:

  • Greet & welcome refugees when they drop in during walk-in hours.
  • Oversee and manage waiting area, keep it looking tidy, organize brochures, update bulletin boards, signs.
  • Chat with refugees while they wait.
  • Answering phone calls, transferring phone calls, forwarding messages to appropriate staff personnel.
  • Alerting staff when clients need to be seen.
  • Assist refugees in submitting requests for appointments.
  • Manage parents supervising their children.
  • Guide and instruct refugees if they need to use the facilities.
  • Provide basic information to refugees.
  • Guide refugees to other services in the area (bus routes, libraries, vocational classes, ESL classes, etc).
  • Assist staff in areas of work such as completing forms, making phone calls, making copies, delivering documents/mail.

Requirements:

  • Good communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Cross-cultural experience.
  • Good command of the English language.
  • Willingness to empathize and learn about refugee issues.
  • Reliable and trustworthy.
  • Friendly and patient.
  • Pro-active.

Gift Wrapping & Delivery

Volunteer duties:

  • Be available when the Refugee Gift Giveaway dates are selected (usually first or second week in December).
  • Go to designated gift wrapping location.
  • At check-in, collect information for individuals you will be wrapping gifts for.
  • Select three gifts for each individual.
  • Wrap, wrap, wrap.
  • Deliver gifts.
  • If refugees are not home, return gift to wrapping location. Repeat steps 2-6.

Requirements:

  • Bring your own wrapping paper. Scissors, tape, and labels will be provided.

Filing & Shredding Volunteer

Processing & Placement Volunteer

Volunteer duties:

  • Screen volunteer applicants by processing applications and contacting references
  • Run background checks
  • Assist with volunteer introductions to refugee families by coordinating with staff and partner organizations
  • Track and log volunteer hours in database
  • Assist with developing content for newsletter (photography, interviewing volunteers for stories, etc.)
  • Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

  • Excellent verbal and communication skills
  • Data entry experience
  • Experience with Excel, Access and MailChimp a huge plus
  • Attention to detail

Project (optional)

  • Assist in streamlining volunteer time logs in a more user-friendly fashion as well as collaborating with Volunteer Coordinator with how to create incentives for volunteers to turn in volunteer time & donations records

Recruitment Volunteer

Volunteer duties:

  • Identify new sources for volunteers and interns
  • Schedule event appearances with the Volunteer Coordinator
  • Work with Program Advancement Coordinator to assist with the organization and distribution of marketing materials
  • Create a plan that outlines who, how and when to connect with volunteers & interns (career fairs, internship fairs, etc.)

Requirements

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Cross-cultural experience
  • Experience with Word, Excel, Prezi, MailChimp a huge plus
  • Preferred Junior or Senior-level university student interested in marketing, fundraising, human resources, international studies, volunteer management and coordination

If you are interested in an internship, click here.

Special Events Volunteer

Volunteer duties:

  • Calls potential venues
  • Contacts local businesses for donations of items to appreciate volunteers
  • Outlines schedule of event program
  • Contacts potential entertainment for event (musicians, magicians, dancers, etc.)
  • Organizes invitations including mailings, phone calls, email invites to volunteers
  • Collect RSVPs
  • Contact local restaurants to donate food for the event (or organize food with a very minimal budget)
  • Identify outstanding volunteers to highlight in the event's program
  • Coordinate with needed staff to assist with implementing the event

Requirements:

  • Event planning experience a huge plus
  • Fundraising/solicitation for donations experience a huge plus
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Creativity and fun a huge plus

Transportation Volunteer

Welcome Meal Volunteer

Application Forms

Please See Below.