One World One Love’s work is powered by our amazing volunteers. In 2024, we supported more than 525 newcomers from 20 countries because of compassionate people like you who believe everyone deserves to be welcomed and supported. We’d love you to join us! Please read on to learn how to get involved. Note that all volunteers 18 and over are required to complete a simple background check.
Before a new refugee family moves into an apartment, we make it a home. We clean, hang curtains, make the beds, and stock the kitchen and bath with household essentials. Another nonprofit provides all of the furniture, which we help assemble. Most setups happen on weekdays in Union/Essex/Hudson counties with only a few days’ notice. If this type of volunteering appeals to you, please email your name, cell and hometown to basicneeds@oneworldonelovenj.
English Conversation Club
Love to talk? Be a conversation partner! Our drop-in English conversation club meets every Wednesday morning at our office in downtown Elizabeth. Come every week or whenever your schedule allows. Our friends learning English would love to meet you! No teaching or ESL experience necessary – just fluency in English and a friendly attitude! Convenient parking is nearby. Email empower@oneworldonelovenj.org for more information.
We offer weekly ESL classes for beginner and intermediate learners, and are always looking for instructors. Experience teaching English is helpful but not necessary. Volunteer instructors are asked to commit to teaching twice a week for a 10-week session. We also are seeking volunteer teachers for our digital literacy program. If you know how to use a mouse and access email, you can teach! Email empower@oneworldonelovenj.org.
Bicycle Distributions
Our Bicycles program repairs and distributes donated bicycles to adults and children who need transportation to reach school, work and appointments. We are looking for volunteers with experience repairing bikes and who can deliver bikes to families. We also accept gently-used bikes. Please email bikes@oneworldonelovenj.org with a photo of the bike or to get involved as a volunteer.
In-Kind Donations
We are grateful for community partners that run collection drives of toiletries, household supplies, and other items for refugee newcomers. If you’re interested in running a drive, please email hello@oneworldonelovenj.org
Do you have ideas for other activities? Are you a professional – a banker, an HR recruiter, an IT specialist, Bookkeeper, etc. – who would like to use your talents to support resettled families? Do you have connections with community organizations or cultural groups that might want to partner with us on a program or event? Let us know! Email us at hello@oneworldonelovenj.org