Volunteer
Letter to Our Volunteers
Dear prospective volunteer:
Since the fall of the government in Kabul, Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, the huge influx of legally admitted Afghan humanitarian parolees into the US is unprecedented.
San Antonio is one of the top destination cities for Afghan resettlement. While CRS is not a resettlement agency our newest neighbors are arriving without basic necessities such as hygiene supplies, bedding, and access to food.
CRS is filling the need to supply essential supplies to new arrivals. Since October 2021 CRS continues to assist over 2,000 Afghan adults and children. More individuals will be coming.
Our most urgent needs at the moment include help with obtaining and delivering essential household items and mattresses to individuals who arrived from Afghanistan. If you are interested in donating or leading a small team that will help an entire refugee family, please send a note thru the "Contact Us" link. Please do not drop off any donations at CRS without contacting our office at 210-949-0062 or sending us a message. We regularly post a list of needed items on our Facebook page.
Due to the continued threat of Covid we have suspended many of our group activities for refugees such as Play & Learn, homework help, music classes, wellness groups, and the sewing circle.
A limited number of refugees is now enrolled in Citizenship classes and ESL (English classes) where social distancing and masking can be observed. If you are a vaccinated adult and are available to teach basic English on Monday mornings, 10-1 please send us a message through “Contact us”.
Thank you.
Thank You For Your Interest in Volunteering
The Center for Refugee Services is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit agency that uses a team approach to provide cultural guidance and social support to resettled refugees originating from more than 20 countries that have been devastated by war and violence.
CRS serves almost 1,000 refugees annually with five core staff members, of which only two are salaried, and 30 auxiliary monthly volunteers. We rely heavily on community networking to achieve the best results for our clients. We value cultural diversity, compassion, and respect for all people.
Established in 2010, the Center for Refugee Services has a proud history of helping hundreds of resettled refugees acclimate to their new homes in San Antonio. If you wish to join our team of volunteers, we will help you find the best possible fit for your skills and interests.
Once your application has been reviewed, you will be contacted to schedule an interview. Training for new volunteers is ongoing.
Volunteer Opportunities
*Office hours are Monday , Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
No evening hours except for tutoring and citizenship classes.
Homework help/tutoring takes place Monday evenings, 7 – 8:30 p.m., when school is in session. No tutoring during summer, Spring Break or holidays.