Airport Welcome Volunteers
Be the first friendly face our new neighbors see! Help guide and support refugees as they arrive, ensuring a warm and smooth transition into their new lives. Your welcome can make all the difference.
Scope of Work:
Be a welcoming presence for new arrivals to our community! As an Airport Welcome Volunteer, you'll be among the first friendly faces our clients encounter. When refugees arrive at the airport, volunteers will meet them at the gate, assist them through baggage claim, and accompany them to their temporary or permanent housing. This is one of the most touching moments of refugee resettlement, where families and friends reunite after long separations and begin a new journey together.
As an Airport Welcome Volunteer, you will support the resettlement caseworker by guiding the newcomers through the airport, locating and handling their luggage, loading it into vehicles, and helping them settle in for their first night in the U.S. This role offers a hands-on way to make a meaningful impact in the lives of refugees, requiring no special training or language skills, just a warm and welcoming attitude.
Time Commitment:
4-5 Hours, One time per two weeks
We ask volunteers to assist with at least one airport pickup every two weeks. Each pickup usually lasts between 4-5 hours.
Requirements:
Excellent intercultural communication skills and the ability to effectively work with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Fluency in additional languages such as Dari/Pashto, Spanish, or indigenous Guatemalan languages is highly desirable.
Willingness to adhere to HMI’s volunteer and workplace policies.
Access to reliable transportation (NOTE: Volunteers will be required to provide proof of license and insurance).
Must pass a background check.
How to Apply:
1. Complete our volunteer form.
2. Prepare a copy of your Driver’s License and Car Insurance to submit.
3. An HMI staff member will follow up with you, or you can send an email to our HR Coordinator, Sedef Altug at HR@hmir.org.