How You Can Help
Volunteering
Volunteering with Lutheran Family Services Domestic Relief Programs is a unique and challenging opportunity. Volunteers are rewarded with an array of fascinating multicultural experiences. In turn, volunteers greatly enhance the efforts of LFS in providing support and services to refugee and asylee families.
Whether you are interested in volunteering on an individual basis, as part of a congregation, school/youth group, or business group, or through an internship, there is sure to be a place for you within the LFS Domestic Relief Programs.
Individual volunteering
Our individual volunteer opportunities include cultural mentoring and office or events assistance. We place an individual volunteer with a refugee to provide assistance in various aspects of cultural adjustment, including shopping, or accessing public transportation. Volunteers may serve as drivers taking evacuees to doctor’s appointments or to the social services office. Other volunteers serve as donations assistants. Volunteering with an evacuee is about being a first Colorado friend to a displaced newcomer. We ask for a minimum four-month commitment of volunteer time to assist an evacuee. A training session is provided with ongoing mentoring support from our experienced staff.
For further information and materials related to individual volunteering, please contact the Volunteer & Church Relations Coordinator at drelief@lfsco.org.
Congregational & Community Organization
Congregational and community organization provides an opportunity to mentor an evacuee family using a team approach. We pair one congregation or community group to one evacuee family. The team provides assistance in aspects of cultural adjustment similar to those provided by the individual volunteer.
The structure used in the team approach comes from the Support Team Network (www.supportteam.org), recognized nationally as an excellent approach to assisting those in need . Each year, dozens of congregations and community groups, representing a broad spectrum of denominations, faiths and interests have successfully assisted evacuees with rebuilding their lives . Training and ongoing support is provided, and teams can be formed with as few as four people and a commitment of only four months.
For further information and materials related to co-sponsorship, please contact the Domestic Relief office at drelief@lfsco.org .
Internships & Work-Study
Internships
The LFS Domestic Relief Programs are committed to importance of evacuee resettlement and providing experience to future leaders in the field. Internships are provided for up to one year. For internship applications or more information about internship positions, please contact the Domesitc Relief office at drelief@lfsco.org
Work-Study Positions
In addition to the volunteer opportunities listed above, work-study placements for college students are also available at the LFS Domestic Relief Programs. For more information, please contact the Domestic Relief Offices at drelief@lfsco.org or your educational institution directly.
If you are interested in receiving more information about volunteer opportunities, please contact either of our offices by telephone or email. If would like to begin volunteering for the LFS Domestic Relief Programs please contact one of our offices to schedule an orientation session.
Denver Office: 303-980-5400 / 877-270-2193
Colorado Springs Office: 719-314-0737
drelief@lfsco.org
To support ongoing relief efforts with Hurricane Katrina evacuees living in Colorado, financial contributions can be designated to Lutheran Family Services – Domestic Relief Services (click on Donate Now).
To support the ongoing ministry of
LDR, please visit their website or
donate directly to their partner organizations, ELCA
Domestic Disaster Response or LCMS
World Relief and Human Care.
