International Rescue Committee – Charlottesville

PovertySocial Justice & Equality
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International Rescue Committee - Charlottesville

PovertySocial Justice & Equality
609 E Market St, Charlottesville, Va 22902
Phone (434) 979 - 7772
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Our mission

The IRC helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future.
Opportunities

Donate Welcome Kits

All too frequently, refugees are forced to flee their homes at a moment’s notice, leaving the life they know and everything they own behind. It is not uncommon for a refugee family to arrive to the United States with a single suitcase containing all that they own. Welcome Kits help to provide the basic household items refugees need to begin building a safe a dignified new life for their family in Virginia. Instructions can be found here: https://rescue.box.com/s/srdvnx7p74w8cxpelhyxqcd4x38s51t6
  • One-time, Occasional
  • Children, Teens, 21+, 55+, Adults, Child with Adult
  • Individuals, Groups (2-10), Corporate Teams
  • None

Apartment Set-up Volunteer

Apartment set-up volunteers provide a warm welcome for families by stocking and decorating their apartments before they arrive. Tasks include assembling and arranging furniture, stocking cabinets, making beds, light cleaning, and other household tasks to make the apartment “move-in ready”. Volunteers assist as-needed and the schedule varies week to week. IRC will provide as much notice as possible.
  • Weekly
  • 21+, 55+, Adults, Child with Adult
  • Individuals, Groups (2-10), Families
  • Physical, Indoor
  • On-site, Formal
  • Weekdays

Youth Mentor

The IRC in Charlottesville Youth Mentoring program (MYVA) serves refugee youth or young adults (15-24) to help them positively navigate new communities and advance their educational and vocational goals. Adult mentors in the Charlottesville community are paired with a mentee and help guide the youth through important life transitions and decisions. Mentors can form a long-term relationship with their mentee—meeting at least once a month for a minimum of 1 year. IRC provides ongoing training and support for the Mentors in the program, with regular follow-ups to set goals and track progress. Participating in the program is expected to be a mutually beneficial and rewarding opportunity for both youth and their Mentor to build intercultural understanding and broaden cultural competency.
  • Weekly
  • 21+, 55+, Adults
  • Individuals
  • On-site, Formal
  • Weekdays, Evenings, Weekends

New Roots Farm & Garden Volunteer

Help staff and farmers out with ongoing projects (e.g. planting, cleaning, harvesting, organizing, etc). Please bring water, gardening gloves, sun-protection, and dress for the weather. Workdays will be cancelled for inclement weather. Volunteers must be willing to work hard and get their hands dirty!
  • One-time, Occasional, Weekly, Monthly
  • Adults, Child with Adult
  • Individuals, Groups (2-10), Groups (10+), Corporate Teams, Families
  • Physical, Outdoor
  • On-site, Formal
  • Evenings, Weekends

ESL Tutor

Help newly arrived refugees learn English, and practice verbal and written communication. Serve as a friendly face and resource for clients to help them more easily integrate into the community.
  • Weekly
  • 21+, 55+, Adults
  • Individuals
  • Indoor
  • On-site, Formal
  • Weekdays, Evenings, Weekends

Reception Volunteer

Front Desk volunteers are vital to IRC operations, greeting each and every person who visits the office, and assisting them with whatever they may need (e.g. directing clients to staff members for meetings, accepting payments, answering basic questions about services). Volunteers are also in charge of answering the main phone line and transferring calls/messages to staff members, as well as receiving and occasionally processing donations (both monetary and in-kind).
  • Weekly, Monthly
  • 21+, 55+, Adults
  • Individuals
  • Office work, Event support, Indoor
  • On-site
  • Weekdays

In-kind Donations Volunteer

The IRC houses a “Resettlement Store” where refugees can shop for donated items such as clothing, household goods, toys, kitchenware, and linens. We always need people to help process in-kind donations and keep the shop organized. Due to COVID-19 precautions, our “store” is currently closed but we are delivering donations to clients. We currently need volunteers to help sort and organize donations and bring them to clients’ homes.
  • Weekly, Monthly
  • 21+, 55+, Adults
  • Individuals, Groups (2-10)
  • Physical, Indoor
  • On-site
  • Weekdays
How you help

In 2020, despite the global pandemic, volunteers provided more than 5,000 hours of support, ensuring that local families maintained access to food, donated goods, education, and transportation. Volunteers assist families and IRC staff both in the office and in the field, providing critical assistance.
About us

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. Since 1998, the IRC in Charlottesville has assisted more than 4,600 refugees from 32 countries to achieve economic self-sufficiency, a sense of security and social integration in the community.