Contact the Global Friends Coalition office at 701-746-8233 or email [email protected] if you’re interested in learning more about any of these opportunities.
We have an extremely diverse group of volunteers from the Greater Grand Forks area working with Global Friends Coalition. One thing we hear over again from our volunteers is that they always look forward to their weekly visits with their New American Friends. Volunteers participate in one of our three programs by attending, hosting and tutoring/mentoring.
Refugee Resettlement
Donate household items or a gift to purchase items
Pick up furniture and household items
Help move and setup a new apartment
Transport new families to go grocery shopping or go to appointments
Tutor new families with English language learning
Mentor new families and help them settle in to their new home and community
New American Integration
Mentor families and help them achieve their individualized goals
Tutor in area high schools with English learners
GROUP INVOLVEMENT
If you have a group of people, an organization, or a church that would like to get involved in helping to welcome newly arriving refugees, please contact us at 701-746-8233 or [email protected] for more information or to setup a time to visit about how you can help.
Opportunities include:
"Co-sponsor" a family: work with our resettlement staff to ensure an arriving family has all required household items and furniture and help move all items into the apartment
Household item collection: organize an item drive within your group to collect the necessary household items and furniture to furnish an apartment
Move-in help: help our resettlement staff move furniture from storage into an apartment being setup for a new family
Fundraise for our resettlement program
Volunteer with a new family as a team
OUR PROGRAMS
FAMILY MENTORS AND ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM
Volunteers of all ages go to the homes of New Americans to be part of the Family Mentors and Adult Education Program. The goal is to help New Americans with English language learning and provide friendship. Volunteers can work individually, with a partner, or even with their whole family. We ask all volunteers to commit to at least 6 months of service, for a minimum of one hour a week (occasionally needing to reschedule or skip a week is acceptable). We find tutoring and mentoring is most effective when a New American has someone consistently visiting their home for a sustained period of time.
RESILIENT YOUTH PROGRAM
Volunteers are matched with English language learners at schools through the Resilient Youth Program. Volunteers assist with homework, help build English skills and confidence, and serve as positive role models. Joining in on different field trips is an option. Volunteers are asked to commit at least an hour per week for six months (with the understanding that you might need to miss occasionally). COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM
Global Friends Coalition helps Greater Grand Forks in its path to becoming a place where mutual regard is prized by providing the broader community opportunities to better understand and to interact with its New American residents. Each year, Global Friends hosts or co-hosts a number of community events and also supports various cultural events and honors requests from community groups to make presentations at its gatherings to better educate their members. In addition, Global Friends partners with local organizations on projects aimed at supporting New Americans.
