Community Connections

Volunteer to Help Refugees in Our Community

Resettling refugees into the Capital Region involves the dedication and generosity of many people. As a volunteer, you can help newly-arrived refugees to rebuild their lives. By giving of yourself, you will not only help a family to make a smooth transition into their new home, but you will make them feel welcome—even if you don’t speak the same language! Whether you can commit to ten hours per week or ten hours per year, you will make a real difference in refugees’ lives.

There are many ways to show your support to the Capital Region's refugee community. How you get involved depends on your skills, interests, and availability. Volunteer opportunities include:

Direct Client Service

Mentor a refugee for 3 to 6 months or longer, helping them to navigate their new home and community
Teach English one-on-one to individuals or families, or to groups of refugees in weekly classes
Lead a workshop or clinic to help clients create résumés, practice job interview skills, prepare their taxes, learn more about life in the United States, or gain new skills
Provide translation or interpretation services
Drive clients to appointments

Fundraising, Outreach, and Community Involvement

Help to plan community events to raise awareness and/or raise money for our client services
Organize a group to run a donation drive, put together New Arrival Welcome Kits, or provide other kinds of support

Housing and Donations

Pick up donations of furniture and household goods and transport them to our warehouse or directly to refugees' homes. We have a strong need for a volunteer with a truck!
Sort donated goods in our warehouse
Set up apartments for new arrivals

Internships and Office Support

Assist with administrative tasks and program management
School credit can be arranged for internships, with a minimum commitment of 8 hours per week for at least 3 months. See current internships available and learn how to apply by downloading our Internship page. You can also look at our Idealist page for current openings.

The first step toward becoming a volunteer with USCRI Albany is to attend an Orientation for New Volunteers. For more information, contact Jen Barkan at (518) 459-1790, ext. 8015 or email info[at]uscri-albany.org.

In-kind Donations

Your in-kind donations help refugees to start their new lives on the right foot. In-kind donations furnish newly-arrived refugees’ homes and ensure that refugee children have appropriate school supplies. Below is a list of needed items. You can download our Accepted Donations Page for a complete list. We accept gently used or new items only.

Most needed:
Beds (especially twin, double, full size)
Couches (no pull-out beds)
Tables
Chairs
Dressers
Sheet sets
Blankets
Winter coats and boots
Gift cards to grocery stores and department stores

Refugees would also really like:
Microwaves
Toasters
Frying pans
Woks
Rice cookers

We cannot accept TVs, washing machines or dryers, stoves, decorative items, clothing (other than winter coats, boots, and baby clothes), or books (other than children's books, books for English language learners, and dictionaries).

New Arrival Welcome Kits
Want to do more? Personalize your donation by creating a New Arrival Welcome Kit especially for one refugee family. There’s no limit to how many New Arrival Welcome Kits you can create and they make great community group projects for families, schools, or religious groups. These kits provide the basic household and personal supplies needed to clean and maintain a home.

Download our New Arrival Welcome Kit in PDF format or see the list below:

Cleaning Supplies
Mops and Buckets
Brooms and Dustpans
Toilet brush/holder
Wastebaskets
Bottles of dish detergent
Cans of kitchen cleanser
Laundry detergent
Packs of sponges

Paper and Plastic Supplies
Rolls of paper towels
Rolls of toilet paper
Boxes of facial tissue
Packs of food storage bags
Packs of trash bags
Plastic shower liner and shower rings
Rolls of tape

Personal Hygiene
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Bars of soap
Bottles of shampoo
Deodorant
Packages of disposable razors
Packages of sanitary napkins
Packages of Band-Aids
Bath towels and washcloths

Kitchen Goods and Miscellaneous
Bath mats
Laundry basket
Packs of clothing hangers
Packs of paper/notebooks
Packs of pens/pencils
Packages of light bulbs
Scissors
Corded telephones
Set of flatware/silverware for 4 to 8 people
Alarm clocks
Pillows and pillowcases
Twin and Double Sheet sets
Flashlights
Mixing Bowls and Cooking Utensils
Dish and glass sets
Pots and pans
Can Openers

School Supplies of all types!

We accept in-kind donations Monday-Thursday, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM at our office. You don't need an appointment.

Contact Jen Barkan for more information about making a donation at:

USCRI Albany
991 Broadway
Albany, NY 12204
(518) 459-1790, ext. 8015
info[at]uscri-albany.org

We can also arrange a time for you to drop off items and, in some instances, find someone to pick up furniture and larger items. Please contact our office for more information.

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