If you are interested in volunteering with Iskashitaa, fill out our volunteer application and email it to eiswerth at fruitmappers dot org. Thank you!

Iskashitaa Volunteer Application

Current Iskash*taa Volunteer Opportunities

• Calling All Foodies and Locavores! We need a friendly and upbeat volunteer to sell Iskash*taa’s jellies, marmalades, vinegars, and other yummy local food products during the Tucson Community Supported Agriculture’s Tuesday pickups from 4 to 7 PM. Meet new friends, trade recipes and sign up new Iskash*taa volunteers!

• Local Harvesters Wanted! Harvest local organic fruit from neighbor’s backyards alongside refugees while practicing English, learning to navigate the city and build bridges between new refugees and their new community. The food resources that exist in any given neighborhood are many. This excess of readily available, nutritious food can be redistributed to others, making efficient use of local resources and providing a wonderful way for neighbors to meet one another. As a volunteer you will help harvest and locate new donation sites for future fruit gleaning.

• Redistribute locally grown fruits and vegetables: Volunteers pick up fruits and vegetables donated by the community at Iskash*taa office and redistribute to refugee homes in various parts of the city. You can spend time with each refugee family or simply drop a bag or two of food off at each apartment listed.

• Have you flyer’d your ‘Hood’? Help spread the word about Iskash*taa by posting or handing out flyers! You can walk through your neighborhood leaving flyers at homes where you spot fruit trees, or hang up a flyer at your workplace or other local establishments. If you would like to help, Tara will email you an electronic version of our updated flyer or you can contact us to pick up colored flyers.

• Farmer’s Market vendor: Iskash*taa would like to renew our presence at local farmer’s markets, but we need your help.  Volunteer to table for us.  This would require you to come to Iskashitaa once every week or every two weeks, pick up local fruit and yummy food products to sell and go set up a table at a local farmer’s market.  We can pair you with refugees to help Friday mornings or Thursday afternoons! We also need help tabling at local fairs and festivals.  This can be a one time commitment, or a new way for you to continue giving back to your community several times a year.

• Interview refugees to document resettlement:The refugees are interested in documenting their resettlement by recording information on the computer with the help of volunteers. Information such as exodus dates from Somalia, Bhutan, and Burundi. Recording refugee camp names and dates, US arrival dates, family genealogy and languages spoken, clan information, previous work skills, and education and more are being recorded. Volunteers would interview families, record information, and if possible enter data in the computer.

• Thank you letter writer: We need someone to help us thank all of our wonderful volunteers and contributors.  Write thank you letters for us.  This is an activity that can also be done with a refugee!  It is an excellent way to practice English and improve reading and writing skills.

• Office Assistance: help with data entry Help us clean up and add to our databases.  This is another activity that can be done alone or with a refugee.  Even activities that can be done from your home!

• ESL Teachers and Assistants: One of our home ESL classes has reached capacity!  We need another teacher or assistant to help out on Wednesday afternoons.  Wednesdays don’t work for you?  There are always more refugees that can benefit from your assistance and instruction on any day of the week!

• Sewing, Weaving and Crocheters wanted! Our Tucson Refugee Sewing and Crafts Circle keeps growing and growing!  We would like to be able to sustain and eventually expand our crafting zones by perhaps adding classes and additional locations.  Like to sew, quilt, weave, or crochet?  Then we want you!

• Mentor a Refugee or a Refugee Family: There are refugees throughout Tucson who need your support and assistance as they struggle to adjust to life in America.  We have ideas and activities to help you be a great mentor.  All it takes is a little bit of your time and understanding.

Have your own idea of how you can contribute to Iskashitaa? We would love to hear it and make it happen! Contact our volunteer coordinator, Tara Pullano at tarapullano at gmail.com.

Don’t like any of these options? You can also give us your money!  We take checks made out to St Francis UMC.