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Volunteer in Bloomington

To access the Exodus Volunteer Policy Manual: Click here!

Bloomington Volunteer Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Exodus Refugee! There are three volunteer opportunities available in Bloomington.  

All volunteers who work with Exodus clients will be required to pass a background check, sign confidentiality forms, and participate in trainings before being matched with an Exodus client.

All volunteers must be at least 18 years old. Have questions about opportunities in Bloomington? Reach out to Sarah Owen at sowen@exodusrefugee.org. Please be aware that our Bloomington staff team is still small, so it may take us a few weeks to respond to your inquiry about volunteering.

Please note: Unless otherwise communicated, all volunteer opportunities will take place Monday-Friday between 9AM-5PM. Weeknight/weekend opportunities will be available soon! Thank you for your understanding at this time.

Join a volunteer team!

Welcome Team: 

The Welcome Team is a volunteer team of dedicated individuals who are eager to welcome refugees to the Bloomington community. Welcome Team members will help Exodus prepare to welcome newcomers to our community by assisting with housing set ups, gathering toiletries and housing supplies, creating a welcome meal, and greeting families at the Indianapolis International Airport. Volunteers on the Welcome Team will be the first community members to engage with newcomers and help them transition into their new lives in Indiana!  

Employment Team: 

The Employment team is a volunteer team of dedicated individuals who are eager to aid refugees in their journey to find meaningful employment to support themselves and their families. Employment Team members will work with Exodus staff to help refugees find jobs through activities including resume building, mock job interviews, taking clients to interviews, assisting with new hire onboarding, and more. Volunteers on the Employment Team get to work one on one with refugees as they navigate the employment process and work to achieve self-sufficiency!

Please note: This opportunity is only available on Wednesdays between 1-4PM at the Exodus Bloomington office.

Transportation Team: 

The Transportation Team is a volunteer team of dedicated individuals who are eager to assist refugees in navigating transportation around Bloomington. Newcomers typically do not have the means to buy personal vehicles when they arrive in Bloomington, and they must learn alternative ways of traversing around the city. The Transportation Team works with clients to teach them the many ways of getting around town including the Bloomington Transit bus service, bicycles and bike safety, and options for people with disabilities including the BT Access Program. Volunteers on the Transportation Team get to work one on one with refugees as they learn to navigate Bloomington and achieve self-sufficiency!   

Current Volunteers

Are you a current volunteer looking for the hour-reporting form? Click here!

Become a Volunteer with Exodus

Thanks for continuing to offer your support to Exodus!

To become a volunteer, you will need to complete the following steps:

Steps to becoming a volunteer:

1. 1. Complete a Volunteer Application
   2. View the Refugee 101 Video
   3. Complete the Refugee 101 Reflection Form. This form is required to be considered to be matched with an opportunity.
   4. Complete Confidentiality Forms and a Background Check. Please keep in mind that background checks generally cost between $20 – $22.
   5. Attend a training specific to your chosen volunteer opportunity

Exodus is requiring all volunteers who want to either come to the Exodus office or meet with clients in person to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of this vaccination to Exodus. As always, the safety and well-being of our clients and volunteers is our top priority, and this will help us keep everyone safe!

Background Check

To access the volunteer background check, click here!