to help them connect to resources such as food, language and citizenship classes, job opportunities, legal services, housing, etc. Natural Helpers are immigrants or children of immigrants who know how to help others navigate the barriers they, or their loved ones, have experienced.
Volunteer Experience Description
Natural Helpers are expected to volunteer for at least five two-hour help desk shifts during the course of the year. Help Desk hours are every Monday night (except holidays). During Help Desk hours, Natural Helpers meet with community members to discuss issues they are experiencing. Community members are served on a first-come, first-served basis and are given a number to help manage service flow. Meetings can last from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the needs of the community member.
Natural Helper volunteers are expected to complete 10 volunteer hours (or five 2-hour shifts) during the year as part of their volunteer commitment, but oftentimes Natural Helpers enjoy the experience and complete more shifts than required. Typically, there are two volunteers per shift and the Director of Immigrant Services will be present to answer any questions.
Training
During the Natural Helpers training, you will become acquainted with resources available in the community, hear about the needs we have seen over the past two years, and learn to become more interculturally competent as you walk alongside community members with needs. The training is mandatory to become a Natural Helper. You will receive a stipend of $125 when you have completed the full training, and $125 at the end of the year if you complete the expected 10 hours of volunteering.
The Natural Helpers training is Friday evening, September 29 through Saturday afternoon, September 30. The training will be held in Goshen at a location to be determined.
Application Instructions
In this application, we encourage you to please tell us about YOUR expertise, experience, and connections within the community that make you a "natural" at helping community members. Your gifts and insights are a vital part of continually improving the Natural Helpers program.
You will be contacted in August for an interview and the final selection of the 2023-2024 cohort will be determined by the end of the month.
Thank you for your interest in fostering a sense of inclusion for immigrants in Elkhart County.