Volunteer Opportunities
Note: In addition to looking for people to offer blocks of time we are looking for people to be team leaders
Office Administrative Team
· Answering telephone calls and emails about refugee resettlement
o (Many Vermonters are reaching out in response to the Syrian refugees situation)
· Developing informational materials to share with community members
· Processing in-coming volunteer applications
· Helping with in-kind donations
o Returning phone calls and emails
o Helping to pick up donations
o Sorting and organizing donations
Case Management Team
· Preparing for new arrivals
o Grocery shopping
o Apartment move
o Apartment set up
· Helping new clients learn to ride the bus
· Helping new clients get to their medical appointments
· Helping new clients with shopping
· Child care
Event Team
· Gifts that Give
o November 29, 11-3
o At the former City Sports Store
o Shifts in multiples of half hour
· Vermont International Festival (see below)
o Friday, December 4 9pm to 8pm
o Saturday, December 5 10am to 6pm
o Sunday, December 6 10am to 5pm
o Champlain Valley Fair Exposition
o Shifts in multiples of ½ hour
In-Kind Needs
Temporary warehouse space(s), preferably close to Fort Ethan Allen office
Arts and crafts supplies for decorating paper dolls at the International Festival
Tubes of henna
People who want to sell their hand-made items
Apple laptop with WiFi
Vermont International Festival, an annual event to celebrate cultures, foods, music and dance from around the world scheduled on December 4th to 6th at Champlain Valley Exposition, Route 15/Pearl Street, Essex Junction, Vermont. This event is a perfect and unique way, particularly for refugees, to show case and share their culture and also interact with people in the region.
We seek volunteers to participate in the following activities. We are open to have you participate according to your schedule.
1. Informational table including brochure, in-kind donation and donation form and how to volunteer
2. Silent auction item table
3. Free activity for all ages to decorate paper dolls
4. Free opportunity for people to have their names written in another language with a different alphabet, such as Arabic and Burmese
5. Hand-made items for sale table
6. Simple henna designs on hands
7. Informational display about refugee resettlement
The following festival hours that need to be covered
Thursday, December 3 Set up
Friday, December 4 9am to 8pm
Saturday, December 5 10am to 6pm
Sunday, December 6 10am to 5pm
Do you or someone you know want to sell hand-made items? So far we have people who will be selling their Burmese hand woven table cloths and vests, Iraqi knitted and crocheted hats and scarves, Bosnian pre-packaged desserts and Ugandan handmade jewelry.
All volunteers will have free admission to the festival. We highly encourage parents to bring their children to participant in the event and give them a chance to learn about other cultures.
For more information regarding volunteering or the event, please contact Shilla Adyero : shillaadyero@gmail.com