Our volunteer opportunities are as varied as the services we provide in order to meet the diverse needs of our clients and to accommodate differences in the schedules and skills of our volunteers. Volunteers can work at the shelter, in the office, or in the community.

Volunteer Opportunities

At Mosaic House
Mosaic House is open to volunteers 7 days a week from 8:00am to 8:00pm
•Teach a Class
-English as a Second Language (ESL):  Volunteers can teach ESL through a variety of approaches, including one-on-one instruction, classroom style, conversational ESL, using an ESL curriculum, and reading/writing instruction.
-Basic orientation:  Some clients in our programs may have only recently come to America, and need orientation to American systems or ways of doing things.  Volunteers can teach these basic skills, such as how to look up bus routes, how to use maps, how to schedule appointments, and any other needs the client might have.
-Life skills classes: Volunteers can assist with life skills, which include a broad variety of topics, including parenting, hygiene, etc.
-Mosaic Money Smart:  Volunteers can help clients learn basic banking, money management, and budgeting skills.  The FDIC Money Smart curriculum and other tools are available for volunteers to use when teaching.
-Computer skills training:  Volunteers instruct clients on basic computer skills, including typing, Microsoft applications, and using the internet and email.  We have laptops and internet access available, and the volunteer can use our typing software as well.
-Job readiness: Volunteers can assist clients with job interviewing skills, resume writing, job searching, workplace environment information, and other skills relating to employment.  Sample resumes and job interviewing information is available.
•Work with children
-After school tutoring: Volunteers can assist the school-aged children at our transitional house in their school work, including math, science, reading, ESL, and any other subjects.
-Child care: Volunteers can assist the staff and clients by watching children while parents participate in any of the above educational classes.
-Children’s activities: Volunteers can lead a number of activities for the children, including art classes, games, movies, story time and reading, sports, and any other special projects.
•Provide maintenance, landscaping, and organizational improvements
-Volunteers can plant flowers, paint an apartment unit, organize donations, etc.

At the Office
Volunteers may assist at the main office during business hours: Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
-Clerical Assistance: Volunteers can help with filing, making copies, answering phones, IT, and other behind the scenes tasks that keep the organization running.
-Interpretation/Translation: If fluent in English and another language, volunteers may translate documents or interpret for meetings between clients and attorneys or other staff.
-Fundraising: Volunteers assist the fundraising department with tasks such as compiling mail-outs, researching new sources of funding and marketing opportunities, and maintaining our donor database. Help organize one of our signature annual events by joining a planning committee.

In the Community
-Run a Donation Drive: Coordinate with shelter staff to see what items are needed, and run a donation drive within your university, church, mosque, temple, or community group to gather items needed by clients staying at the shelter.
-Spread the word: Tell others about the Mosaic Family Services and Mosaic events such as the Champion of Human Rights Luncheon, Mosaic in Motion, and others. Promote Mosaic Family Services on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites.

Internships and Service Learning

Students of social work, counseling, law, and other fields may fulfill their internship, practicum, service learning, or community service requirements though volunteering their time at Mosaic. Interns can work with case managers, legal staff, transitional house attendants, and other staff members to fulfill their internship requirements and learn more about working immigrants and refugees.

Volunteer Process

All volunteers must complete an application, attend an orientation, and pass a background check before they begain volunteering.

Click here to fill out a volunteer application then submit it via mail, fax, e-mail, or in person with the note “Attn: Volunteer Coordinator.”

Once we have received your application, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with dates for upcoming volunteer orientations. Orientations typically last 1 hour.
Mosaic Family Services must run a criminal background check on all volunteers and interns before they begin volunteering with us. Mosaic does not accept community service restitution volunteers (i.e. court-ordered volunteers).

If you are interested in any of these volunteer opportunities,would like to sign up to attend a volunteer orientation, or have any other questions please contact the Volunteer Coordinator  via email