The Agency for New Americans relies on the support of our volunteers.
The Agency for New Americans (ANA) relies on the support of our volunteers. Some positions become available more often than others; however, we are always looking for people who want to help the refugee population and believe in matching volunteers’ unique talents to the needs of ANA at any given time. While we place our volunteers in a variety of areas, what follows is merely a general accounting of the areas that you may be interested in.
If you are interested in volunteering with ANA, please fill out the form above to attend a new volunteer orientation to learn how clients are getting to the agency, the services provided, and how volunteers fit into that larger picture as well as current volunteer needs. If you have questions about volunteering, please call 208-338-0033 ext. 0161 or email jbayard@jannus.org.
"I volunteer because I know how bewildering it can be to move to a foreign place and not know the culture or customs." -M |
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"Working with refugees has brought so much joy into my life and allowed my family to have rich multicultural experiences. These new Americans inspire me with their courage, resilience and smiles. Their example has reinvigorated my belief in the American Dream." -Nancy
Thank you for your interest in the Agency for New Americans!
Thank you for your interest in the Agency for New Americans!
Long Term Activities
Administrative Tasks
Are you a wiz with computers? Do you like being the first person visitors see at the office?
Help at the front desk greeting refugees and answering calls. Assist Case Managers with paperwork and filing. Work on promotional and outreach materials. Walk new refugees through school orientations. There is a plethora of options available to help in the office during our regular business hours.
Apartment Setup
Come make beds and setup kitchens!
We are looking for people who would love to setup apartments for new arriving refugees. You would be setting up kitchens, making beds and generally making the apartment look nice and ready for the refugees to live in. You can meet at the apartment and help setup everything or you can help the donations manager with the heavy lifting and moving everything into the apartment. Move-ins typically happen during normal business hours. Case managers schedule the move with the apartment management and the donations manager lets volunteers know the timing.
Drivers
Meet newly arrived refugees and help drive them around Boise!
We need help transporting clients to a multitude of appointments within their first two weeks of arrival. This includes appointments at the agency, Social Security, apartments, and the English Language Center. This is a great opportunity for volunteers with a flexible schedule on weekdays. We almost never schedule drivers for evenings or weekends.
Employment Program
Our Employment Program is designed to provide information, resources, support and services for clients during their employment search. This position may involve any of the following: making phone calls to prospective employers, helping clients complete their application and/or creating a resume, conducting mock job interviews to prepare for the “real thing,” and providing transportation to interviews.
English as a Second Language (ESL)Tutor- We have a long list of volunteers waiting to become tutors. The wait to be matched with a family is now a few months so we are not taking applications for new ESL tutors at this time.
Teach a refugee to speak and write English!
We need volunteers to work one on one with a client or a family to practice their English. Many of our clients need extra practice beyond what they receive in English class. Clients attend English class for three hours every day when they arrive until they begin working but want to continue learning long after they get their first job. This is a great option for someone who is only available evenings and weekends as our clients are usually busy during the day and willing to commit to volunteering 2 hours per week for at least 6 months.
Family Mentor - We have a long list of volunteers waiting to become family mentors. The wait to be matched with a family is now a few months so we are not taking applications for new family mentors at this time.
Help newly arrived families adjust to life in Boise!
We need volunteers to build relationships with refugees to give each family a special friend to help them learn the ins and outs of American life. A mentor meets at least once a week to help with English language practice, grocery shopping, paying bills, and cultural sharing such as having a picnic, going to the zoo, watching a movie, or eating pizza. The first month or two will mainly be helping the family troubleshoot problems that arise and helping them feel comfortable in their new home. This is a great option for someone who has limited availability during business hours and is available evenings and weekends as our clients are usually busy during the day and willing to commit to volunteering 2 hours per week for at least 6 months.
Are you a wiz with computers? Do you like being the first person visitors see at the office?
Help at the front desk greeting refugees and answering calls. Assist Case Managers with paperwork and filing. Work on promotional and outreach materials. Walk new refugees through school orientations. There is a plethora of options available to help in the office during our regular business hours.
Apartment Setup
Come make beds and setup kitchens!
We are looking for people who would love to setup apartments for new arriving refugees. You would be setting up kitchens, making beds and generally making the apartment look nice and ready for the refugees to live in. You can meet at the apartment and help setup everything or you can help the donations manager with the heavy lifting and moving everything into the apartment. Move-ins typically happen during normal business hours. Case managers schedule the move with the apartment management and the donations manager lets volunteers know the timing.
Drivers
Meet newly arrived refugees and help drive them around Boise!
We need help transporting clients to a multitude of appointments within their first two weeks of arrival. This includes appointments at the agency, Social Security, apartments, and the English Language Center. This is a great opportunity for volunteers with a flexible schedule on weekdays. We almost never schedule drivers for evenings or weekends.
Employment Program
Our Employment Program is designed to provide information, resources, support and services for clients during their employment search. This position may involve any of the following: making phone calls to prospective employers, helping clients complete their application and/or creating a resume, conducting mock job interviews to prepare for the “real thing,” and providing transportation to interviews.
English as a Second Language (ESL)Tutor- We have a long list of volunteers waiting to become tutors. The wait to be matched with a family is now a few months so we are not taking applications for new ESL tutors at this time.
Teach a refugee to speak and write English!
We need volunteers to work one on one with a client or a family to practice their English. Many of our clients need extra practice beyond what they receive in English class. Clients attend English class for three hours every day when they arrive until they begin working but want to continue learning long after they get their first job. This is a great option for someone who is only available evenings and weekends as our clients are usually busy during the day and willing to commit to volunteering 2 hours per week for at least 6 months.
Family Mentor - We have a long list of volunteers waiting to become family mentors. The wait to be matched with a family is now a few months so we are not taking applications for new family mentors at this time.
Help newly arrived families adjust to life in Boise!
We need volunteers to build relationships with refugees to give each family a special friend to help them learn the ins and outs of American life. A mentor meets at least once a week to help with English language practice, grocery shopping, paying bills, and cultural sharing such as having a picnic, going to the zoo, watching a movie, or eating pizza. The first month or two will mainly be helping the family troubleshoot problems that arise and helping them feel comfortable in their new home. This is a great option for someone who has limited availability during business hours and is available evenings and weekends as our clients are usually busy during the day and willing to commit to volunteering 2 hours per week for at least 6 months.
Short Term or Single Event Activities
Social Events for Refugees
Host an event with your church or organization- A great way to celebrate a holiday
Plan and host and social gathering for some refugees. These gatherings could be holiday themed or any other type of social event. You would need to provide transportation to/from the event. The holidays are a great way to introduce refugees t0 our culture.We will set you up with some refugee families who would be interested in coming and these activities help them make new friends.
Donation Drives
A great option for a youth group, church group, or social group. We only resettle in Boise so if you are too far away to commit to volunteering, please consider a donation drive.
Service Learning Students
There are a few slots left for Service Learning projects at our front desk. We ask for a minimum of 20 hours for the semester. You would be responsible for greeting clients and answering the phone, helping everyone connect with the staff member they need. If it is slow, we would also give you small projects around the office. You would be assigned a weekly time and there would be an expectation that you would commit to coming weekly for the semester. We have times available during our regular office hours, 8:30-5:00, M-F. If you are interested in this project, please call or email Julie Bayard at 208-995-0161 or jbayard@jannus.org.
