How To Help

• Volunteer Opportunities
• Church or Civic Group Involvement
• Donate

Volunteer Opportunities

Throughout the programs of Catholic Charities there are many opportunities for you to share your talents. The following is a list of our current volunteer opportunities.

Refugee Resettlement - Individuals interested in donating their time to the Refugee Resettlement Program will help familiarize a refugee family with various aspects of American culture, orient the family to the Orlando area and provide friendship to a family in need.

Youth Program - The Youth Program is in need of mentors for the children enrolled in their program. Mentors help these students become familiar with a new culture and assist them with English tutoring and classroom assignments.

For more information about our volunteer opportunities please contact Anita Capetillo at (407) 658-1818 or acapetillo@ccorlando.org

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Church and Civic Group Involvement

Groups hosting refugee families are the first to welcome them to the United States. These families have fled their home contries due to a well-founded fear of persecution. They have left behind family, friends, and their way of life. Host groups provide families with assistance to help them with their adjustment to a new culture and ultimate goal of self-sufficiency. Most importantly, host groups offer refugee families encouragement and emotional support.

Churches and civic groups interested in sponsoring a refugee family can assist in their resettlement by choosing one or both of these options:

1. Obtaining furnishings and other household supplies for refugee families. These items include the following:

Furniture
Kitchen Items
Linens and other household supplies
Cleaning supplies
Toiletries
Food
Other necessities depending on need

Click here to see a more detailed list of necessary items

2. Visiting the refugee families that have arrived and providing some of the following services:

Airport Reception
Community Orientation (Visit to Doctor, Grocery Store etc.)
Cultural Orientation
English Tutoring
Help Children with Homework
Financial Support to meet housing obligations

Donations

We need your help to better assist the refugee families that we serve at Catholic Charities. Your material or cash donation will enable us to respond effectively and meet the needs of the refugees and immigrants we serve every day.

• Furniture and Household Goods - These items help the Refugee Resettlement Program provide arriving refugee families with basic household items needed in their new home. (Exp. sofas, matresses, dressers, lamps, etc.)

To schedule a pick up please contact Sasha Prodonovich at (407) 313-3027 or at sprodonovich@cirsorl.org.

• Vehicle Donation - Refugee families arriving in Orlando need safe, reliable transportation in order to go to work and attend English classes. Cars donated to the program are transferred directly to refugee families. Unfortunately, CIRS has limited funds to upgrade vehicles so all donated autos must be in working condition needing only basic repair.

To donate a vehicle, please contact Sasha Prodanovich at (407) 313-3027 or at sprodanovich@cirsorl.org.

• School Supplies and Other Materials Donations- Refugee youth are in need of supplies in order to be ready for school. They're also in need of recreational items and supplies for summer camp.
  
  Click here to see a list of supplies

• Cash Donations - We also need financial help to continue providing assistance to the families and individuals we serve. Cash contributions are used to directly assist recent refugee arrivals and newcomers seeking immigration services. Housing, electricity deposits, items that cannot be obtained by donations, car repairs and payment of immigration processing fees for needy clients are among the uses of donated funds. Contributions can be made to the program of your choice.

Your check or money order can be mailed to:

Catholic Charities of Central Florida
1771 N. Semoran Blvd., Suite C
Orlando, Florida 32807