Get Involved

Volunteer

Volunteer

Receptionist: Volunteer receptionists assist with general office support through a variety of activities and related tasks. Volunteer receptionists answering incoming calls, direct calls to appropriate staff, as well as other clerical duties. Full-time and part-time positions are available.

Appeal

A variety of opportunities to help with the annual Appeal, which supports Catholic Charities, are open:

Parish Appeal Team Member: Acts as a communication link between your parish and Catholic Charities, and is a knowledgeable resource of Catholic Charities’ services to parishioners and peers. In effect, the parish team member is the “operations manager” for Parish collections and returns for the annual Appeal.

Appeal Speaker: Connects with and educates parishioners about the Appeal and Catholic Charities’ programs and services. Appeal speakers volunteer time to speak at Masses during one or more weekends at a parish in their community.

Corporate Committee Member: Networks and collaborates with other local business leaders to connect, educate and solicit businesses in Western New York. The role includes fundraising and educating the community about Catholic Charities’ services.

Community Committee Member: Connects with, educates and solicits groups comprised of the Community Committee, including Campus Ministries, Catholic elementary and high schools, Parish Youth Organizations and Religious Education. Volunteers gain fundraising experience and service hours, make connections, and most importantly, give back to our community.

Food Pantry

Pantry Volunteer: Volunteers are needed for the South Buffalo, Lovejoy and Kenmore pantries. Volunteers must be fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine.

Immigration & Refugee Assistance Program

Those interested in volunteering with our IRAP program must adhere to the following requirements:

• Respect confidentiality
• Respect the rights of the people you work with
• Have a non-judgmental approach
• Be reliable and punctual
• Be trustworthy
• Complete Volunteer Sign-In forms

Employment Volunteer: Helps update refugee employer database. This position involves calling employers to confirm updated information. Volunteers are needed approximately 20 hours per week.

English Language Learners (ELL): Volunteers will provide English language tutoring and conversation practice for newly arrived refugees, as well as help clients read through paperwork or instructional materials. Volunteers are needed for approximately 6 to 10 hours per week.

Drivers: Volunteers with trucks are needed as drivers to help pick up donations from the donor’s house. Ability to lift heavy furniture and climb stairs is necessary. The donations will be dropped off to one of three places: our office on Herkimer Street, to a client’s new home, or to our storage unit on Union Road in Cheektowaga. A clean NYS driver’s license and compliance with traffic laws are required. Volunteers are needed for approximately 6 to 8 hours a week.

Transportation Guide: Volunteers are needed to meet with newly arrived refugees to help them learn how to use public transportation, and to show clients how to read bus schedules, route maps, and buy and use bus tickets. Experience with using Buffalo public transit is preferred. Volunteers are needed approximately 2 to 6 hours per week.

• Bus Orientation: Volunteers who are familiar with local bus routes can assist in teaching our clients how to properly use this form of public transportation. Upon being matched with a client, the volunteer will set up a date and time to meet with the client, where they will show them how to use a bus pass and how to properly ride the bus.

Donations: Volunteers are needed to assist the donation coordinator organize incoming donations into their respective places. Additionally, we will need volunteers to help sort and package items that are needed for our incoming refugee families. These can include: clothing, household items, kitchenware and cleaning supplies. Volunteers are needed approximately 2 to 6 hours per week.

Good Neighbors Project: The Good Neighbors project is an opportunity for a team of volunteers (suggested 8-12 people) to welcome and create a safe home environment for our new families who are scheduled to arrive and reside in Buffalo, NY. This project will consist of collecting new and gently used furniture and household items to provide a complete home set up for a refugee family arriving in Buffalo.

For more information on any of the above volunteer positions or to request a volunteer application, please call (716) 218-1450, ext. 2006.

In-Kind Donations

Internships

At Catholic Charities, we respect and appreciate the gifts and talents of all of our interns. We provide a wealth of opportunities in the Human Services field for those looking to get involved or engage in credit-based internships to enhance clinical and professional development.

Here is a listing of current internships available for college credit:

• Information Technology – Inventory Management
• Human Resources – Statistical reporting
• Accounting/Finance – Report writing
• Clerical/Administrative – Records Management
• Public Relations and Communications

To express interest in an internship with Catholic Charities, please email info@ccwny.org with the subject “Internship.”