Volunteer highlight: Janet & Doug

In celebration of National Volunteer Week, the International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City would like to thank all of the incredibly dedicated community volunteers who have supported our work and the families we serve over the years. Learn about two invaluable members of our volunteer corps below.

Meet Doug.

Doug started volunteering at the New Roots farm last year. He heard about the IRC after attending a talk at the University of Utah given by Natalie El-Deiry, executive director in Salt Lake City. This inspired him to complete an internship with the IRC during college, and then stay on in a volunteer role.  

“I like volunteering with New Roots because it’s something very concrete to do,” Doug explains. “I can literally get my hands dirty and do something that has a very direct effect.” After doing his internship with the health program, Doug has enjoyed being able to try something different while still serving refugees. One of Doug’s favorite things about the New Roots program is the independence it provides for the New Americans and refugees to do things for themselves. Doug expects to continue volunteering with the IRC for as long as he is able.   

Meet Janet. 

“International Rescue Committee, Janet speaking.” As a Front Desk Volunteer, Janet answers the phone and greets people coming in to the office in Salt Lake City on Thursday mornings, though there are fewer greetings now as the IRC maintains appointment-only operations at the office space. Janet had a career as a teacher, and after she retired a few years ago, she felt she wanted to do something good with her time. “The IRC is just a very specific way to be really helpful,” Janet shares about her reasons for lending her support to the IRC.  

Janet has been volunteering with the IRC for a few years. Janet helps people arriving at the Salt Lake City office check in and find the staff member they are looking for. “When I first started volunteering at the front desk, a lot more people were coming here directly,” she remembers. “It was a lot of fun.”  

Janet also volunteers as a Citizenship Tutor and reflects on the relationships that she has gained through that experience. “There are five women who I’ve seen through the whole process — they are now citizens – and they still call me.” As a retired teacher, she says that she feels very comfortable with teaching, although the experience of tutoring refugees and immigrants has been very different.

New Roots: New Roots volunteers provide various support at one of the New Roots farms or farmers’ markets. The New Roots program provides opportunities for refugees and New Americans to grow familiar foods and achieve economic independence and through farming and selling produce. 

Front Desk & Citizenship tutor: Front Desk Volunteers greet and direct people arriving at the Salt Lake City office to appropriate staff members. They are the face of the IRC in Salt Lake City and gain practice in communicating with people of various cultural backgrounds. Under the supervision of IRC staff, Civic and Citizenship tutors provide one-on-one tutoring for refugees and New Americans applying for U.S. citizenship. Volunteers will prepare program participants for the U.S. naturalization test and help with basic English skills. 

Learn more about this volunteer opportunity and others by visiting Rescue.org/VolunteerSLC.