Volunteer With LORI
Support refugee and immigrant communities across Louisiana through education, outreach, legal aid, youth engagement, and direct service.
Why Volunteer With LORI
At the Louisiana Organization for Refugees and Immigrants (LORI), volunteers are an important part of how we serve refugee and immigrant families across Louisiana and beyond. From education and youth programming to community outreach, legal support, mutual aid, and event engagement, our volunteers help strengthen programs that foster belonging, dignity, and opportunity.
Whether you’re looking to give back, gain hands-on experience, build professional skills, or support meaningful community-centered work — there is a place for you at LORI.
LORI exists to assist refugees and immigrants throughout their various stages of integration in Louisiana and beyond, enabling them to become self-reliant.
What Volunteers Do
- Support refugee and immigrant families in meaningful, direct ways
- Build relationships across cultures and communities
- Gain hands-on experience in nonprofit, education, outreach, advocacy, and direct service work
- Strengthen leadership, communication, and professional skills
- Contribute to programs that expand access, belonging, and opportunity
Volunteer Impact Areas
Volunteers contribute to programs that make LORI’s work possible every day.
Direct Service
Food, housing, and community support
Education
ESL, digital literacy, and citizenship prep
Outreach
Storytelling and community engagement
Legal Aid
Immigration and legal services support
Youth & Events
Summer camps and cultural celebrations
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Find a role that fits your interests, skills, and availability.
| Role | What You’ll Do | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Food Pantry & Mutual Aid | Help receive, sort, and distribute food, clothing, and essentials to families in need. | Thu & Fri | 9 AM – 5 PM |
| ESL & Digital Literacy | Support adult learners through classroom engagement, conversation practice, and basic tech support. | Tue, Wed, Thu | 5:30 – 7:00 PM |
| Citizenship Preparation | Assist individuals preparing for U.S. citizenship through instructional and community support. | Sat Virtual 9:30 AM; Mon In-Person 4:30 PM |
| Summer Enrichment Camp | Support youth through activities, enrichment sessions, and program coordination. | Mid-June through July | Flexible |
| Communications Support | Support storytelling, content writing, outreach, and community engagement efforts. | Min. 2–3 days/week | In-person | Long-term preferred |
| Phone Banking & Outreach | Support community outreach during key engagement periods and initiatives. | Min. 2–3 days/week | In-person |
| Legal Services Intern / Volunteer | Support the legal team under supervision. Requires legal training or substantive legal experience. | Min. 5 hours/week |
| Refugee & Immigrant Event Support | Assist with planning, logistics, outreach, and day-of event coordination. | Flexible | Short-term or seasonal |
Voices From Our Volunteers
Hear why people choose to serve with LORI.
I love volunteering at LORI because it gives me the opportunity to serve the community and have volunteer hours for my school.
I love volunteering because I feel happy helping the community.
Me gusta porque conose más personas y otras culturas.
I volunteer because as someone from immigrant descent myself, living in times of growing xenophobia and hatred, I find it important to serve and find solidarity with various communities who form the backbone of America.
I like helping people and enjoy it at LORI.
I am volunteering to give back to the community.
I volunteer at LORI to share my gifts and give back to my community. I volunteer at LORI because I feel it’s important to help people in this country.
It’s impossible to travel the entire world, but by volunteering with immigrant communities, I am still able to engage with diverse peoples, traditions and worldviews. I leave every experience richer and more connected with the world.
The reason I help out at LORI is really because I was asked, but to go a little deeper — it’s because of the kindness I was shown here when I slipped up. I volunteer in the hope that together we can build a community that supports and works for us all.
How to Get Started
Joining LORI’s volunteer community is simple. Here’s what to expect:
Explore roles and find the best fit for your interests and availability
Fill out the volunteer interest form for your chosen role
Attend an initial volunteer meeting with our team
Complete any onboarding or screening for your role
Start volunteering and making a difference!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need previous experience to volunteer?
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Are all volunteer roles in person?
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Can students receive service-learning or internship credit?
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Are there short-term opportunities available?
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Do all roles require background checks?
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Get Involved Today
Choose a role and fill out the form — we’ll be in touch!
General Volunteer
Support our community across a wide range of programs and needs.
Apply now →
Food Pantry
Help distribute food and mutual aid to families in need.
Apply now →
Legal Volunteering
Assist with legal services and immigration support programs.
Apply now →
Summer Camp
Support our summer enrichment program for refugee youth.
Apply now →
Events & Short-term
Lend a hand at cultural celebrations and community events.
Apply now →
WRID Volunteering
World Refugee & Immigrant Day outreach and support.
Apply now →
For Universities, Partners & Community Networks
Are you a university, student organization, faith community, workplace, or partner network interested in connecting people to meaningful volunteer service? LORI welcomes collaboration with institutions who share our commitment to community.