Volunteer With Us
There are many ways to participate in the welcoming movement in Santa Cruz. Think about the resources you rely on in a typical day or week. Now imagine leaving your home, your job, your friends and your county after an event that made it unsafe to stay. You arrive in a new place with a different language, customs, and regulations. You would need kind-hearted, understanding people to help, right? That’s where the Santa Cruz Welcoming Network shines!
We will help to match your skills, interests, and availability with current opportunities.
Ways to Get Involved
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Join a Team
Join a team of volunteers to accompany a family, connecting them with resources and services to meet their basic needs. For example, helping to search for work, set up medical appointments, start English lessons and navigate cultural acclimation.
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Be a Host
Hosting and temporarily sharing your home can offer stability to a new family. It can be a room, a cottage or an extra living space. The WN team will assist the family with everything else—school, work, medical care, and legal matters. Through this opportunity, we’ve witnessed beautiful relationships blossom.
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Build the Network
You can become an advocate, companion, fundraiser, or network builder by recruiting faith communities, businesses, community groups, or other potential partners. You can also bring us into your organization’s events—we often provide speakers at relevant local events.
To Learn More
Sign-up for our Quarterly Newsletter and receive updates about refugee support opportunities.
Watch volunteers Mary and Ellen introduce the Welcoming Network on SC Currents Nonprofit Spotlight on Youtube.
Watch this Zoom recording of Welcoming Congregations to hear from faith communities on how they are providing hospitality and care for refugees.
Welcoming Workshop in English
Get to know a bit about us and what we do. This was recorded in July 2022.
Taller de Bienvenida en Español
¡Conócenos un poco y aprende lo que hacemos!
