Volunteer Categories

Provide transportation to individuals and families to medical, government, and Bethany appointments and other necessary locations. If you are using your own vehicle, mileage is reimbursed.

Serve as a positive role model for a youth 3-17 years old in the foster care or counseling program. Minimum of 4 hours per month. 12-month commitment and background screening required

Support Bethany staff with clerical duties such as copying, scanning, and filing documents. Volunteers are also needed to organize incoming donations. Great for small groups to get involved!

Before a refugee individual or family arrives in their new community, a home needs to be readied for them. Move-in helpers assist with assembling furniture, making beds, setting up the kitchen and bathrooms, stocking the pantry, or preparing a hot meal for their arrival.

Meet with clients and their interpreter at their nearest bus stop to show them how they can best use public transportation to get to work, grocery stores, medical offices, and around the city. Provide tech training to teach clients the safety and navigation of Uber/Lyft rides.

Upon arrival, Bethany is required to provide a cultural hot meal and stock the pantry with food. Items include; dairy, meats, fruits, vegetables, beans, breads, snacks or crackers, essential spices, teas, and coffee. Shoppers will be provided with a grocery list specific to country of origin. Hot meals can be purchased from a local restaurant or prepared prior to arrival. Donations are greatly appreciated, but willing to reimburse for food expenses.

Form a small group of friends, co-workers, neighbors, or church members to be matched with a refugee family arriving soon. Co-Sponsorship is a longer term commitment (least six months) as your group will assist staff to meet refugees' needs upon arrival and help them to thrive in your new community. Training is provided by our staff so you are all prepared to offer support services.

Introduce the newcomer to your community by showing them around town, help to find jobs, prepare for school enrollment, or assist with cultural orientation. You will work closely with Bethany staff who will assign duties to assist with the first 90-day resettlement period.

Spend time once a week with refugee teens being a positive role model.  Requires a 12-month commitment spending 4 hours per month with matched youth.

Assist Ukrainian families who recently arrived in your community with food, housing, transportation, material needs, and case management support.

We are looking for groups or individuals to provide a meal for approximately 50 people. Each month, foster families come together over a meal and build a strong support network. It is also an event that many siblings who are not placed in the same home be given an opportunity to share a meal and spend some special time together. You are welcome to drop off the meal or stay and serve the meal. Individuals who stay and serve the meal must undergo a criminal background check.

Be a friend to a family as they acclimate to living in America. As a new neighbor, you will experience a cross-cultural relationship with a family as you provide transportation, help them decipher mail, assist with budgeting, and familiarize them with English. This is a 12-month commitment with an average of 4 hours per month.

A day of service can demonstrate and celebrate the power of families, community groups, or businesses who volunteer together by supporting their community. Bethany can offer a day for your group to help with a specific event already planned or scheduled arrival. Activities may include offering a collection of household goods, grocery shopping for a family’s arrival, preparing a home, lawn or home care assistance etc.

A group of people, typically a family, that circles around and supports a teen. Minimum of 5 hours per month, ideally connecting with the teen twice per month.

We are seeking enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers to help facilitate recreational activities for teens in foster care. As a Recreation Activity Volunteer, you will play a crucial role in creating a positive, engaging, and safe environment for teens to connect, have fun, and build new skills. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the well-being and personal growth of young individuals through enjoyable and interactive activities. You would be able to participate in activities that work for your schedule once you have been screened and have completed training as a volunteer.

Help adult individuals develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in their job search to become self-sufficient. Your role will involve mentoring, guiding, and empowering clients as they navigate the job search process and workplace challenges with resume building, interview preparations, and job applications.

This full-time, one-year commitment volunteer placement is a great way to build your resume and gain social work experience while capacity building within Bethany's resettlement programs enhancing the lives of refugees coming to the United States. AmeriCorps members at Bethany receive a monthly stipend, healthcare benefits, and are awarded education allowance to pay off student loans or help pay further education. Work your way into refugee cultural education, legal services, employment, IT support and community engagement. We can fit your skill set with our project needs!

Use your specialized skills to support our mission of serving refugee or domestic youth. Your contributions will make a meaningful impact by helping us with offering free piano lessons, art classes, extracurricular activities etc. Volunteers can expect to be supervised by staff in a classroom setting anytime 9am-4pm M-F.

Browse our Amazon wish list (all items ship directly to us)

Play a vital role in uplifting and interceding for Bethany children and families we serve through dedicated and intentional prayer. This role is ideal for those who feel called to support others spiritually, offering encouragement, strength, and faith through prayerful dedication. There isn't a specific time or occasion to commit to this, however consistent and intentional prayers for Bethany clients and staff are crucial to motivate our mission work.

Involve your entire family to provide a nurturing and supportive presence for youth in foster care. This role offers clients we serve a sense of belonging, stability, and encouragement through meaningful relationships, shared experiences, and positive role modeling. Engage at minimum 4 hours per month for a 1-year commitment in regular activities such as shared meals, outings, or hobbies to create a sense of normalcy and connection.

Teach or help practice basic English or a particular area of need. You will meet one-on-one or in a group setting, typically for 4-6 hours per month. Also a great need to help students with school subjects.

Great for community group of individuals who are committed to providing assistance in the support areas they choose. Some examples include: providing hot meals, grocery shoppers, transporters to/from appointments, collecting and distributing donations etc. There is no time commitment required for this role.

Donations are needed frequently to help support the urgent needs of our refugee clients. Gift cards for stores like Aldi, Walmart, Meijer, and Target allow our staff and client families to buy weather-appropriate clothing, highchairs, cribs, and other necessities to meet urgent needs as they arise. Contact us to make a monetary donation to directly support an individual or family or donate items. Check out our Amazon Needs List of items we need to keep our refugee client pantry stocked throughout the year to best meet current client needs.

Whether you're a retired professional, weekend DIY enthusiast, or just looking to lend a hand, your handyman skills can make a big difference. We’d love you to help us with our ongoing list of general maintenance and repair projects.

Clean and vacuum our office on a weekly basis. Your efforts will help create a clean and welcoming environment for staff, clients and visitors.

Help beautify and maintain our garden beds located at our office. This is a great opportunity to connect with nature, get some fresh air, and make a visible impact to create a welcoming space for staff, clients, and visitors.

Do you have a knack for connecting with people and a passion for supporting local initiatives? Bethany is seeking an enthusiastic individual to assist in recruiting volunteers and resources for our local programs while attending fundraising and awareness events. Your communication skills and dedication will help us build a strong network of supporters and drive our mission forward.

Donations are needed frequently. Gift cards allow families to buy weather-appropriate clothing, highchairs, cribs, and other necessities. Some donations must be new, while others can be used. Living room and kitchen furniture, vehicles, and bicycles are a common request and we might be able to pick up! Cribs or mattresses must be new. Contact us to make a monetary donation to directly support an individual or family or donate items.

Join a collaborative effort between your church and local volunteers to support families in times of crisis. Our mission is to provide early assistance, ensuring parents receive the help they need to stabilize their situation and keep their family together—long before foster care becomes a possibility. Make a difference by offering transportation, providing meals, caring for children, becoming a host family, or delivering essential supplies like diapers and resources. We are actively seeking host families, resource friends, and family coaches to help strengthen and uplift families in need.

Seeking students passionate about making a difference for children and families. Interns work directly under the direct supervision of a Bethany staff member, gaining valuable professional experience in a variety of programs. Accepting applications for Social and Legal Work, Criminal Justice, Public Health, Nursing, Education. Semester and year-long placements considered. *Positions available at each location may vary.

Assist with outreach initiatives by facilitating connections with prospective donors and Bethany partners. Support event coordination by managing logistics, including setup and teardown, and ensure a warm, welcoming presence at Bethany-sponsored events.

Provide transportation to appointments and parent visits for local foster children, as needed. Transportation needs and clientele will vary at each location.