Volunteer Voices

Active Service Has Been, for Me, an Antidote to Despair and Helplessness in the Face of Our Broken Immigration System.”

February 5, 2025

I started volunteering with AIDNW because I felt heartbroken by stories of the immigrant experience and wanted to actively help people caught up in a dehumanizing and often deliberately cruel system.

“AIDNW Volunteering Is Such A Beautiful Experience”

January 7, 2025

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By Dieu Est Amour Nsungi, AIDNW Volunteer My journey to…

“Immigrants are Grateful for Visits in Detention”

January 28, 2024

When I started as a visitation volunteer with AIDNW, I was a bit nervous. I'm not the world's greatest conversationalist; I had no idea how it would go.

Charnley Marsden, AIDNW information technology volunteer, a middle aged white woman with light brown hair and a big smile.

“Working in the office, I get to meet new immigrants.”

December 21, 2023

Not all AIDNW volunteers are out at the Welcome Center greeting released immigrants five days a week, coordinating their travel plans, or driving immigrants to the airport.

Steve Greenheck, AIDNW post-detention accompaniment driver

“Giving A First Very Positive Impression of Americans”

November 20, 2023

Taking people to the airport to fly to their sponsor’s US city gives me an opportunity to talk with them and make personal connections. Tension can be released a bit in joking conversation enroute.

Aviva Furman, AIDNW welcome center volunteer - white, middle aged woman with blond curly hair and glasses. She is smiling widely.

“Best Volunteer Job I’ve Ever Had!”

October 21, 2023

I’ve had the privilege of being an AIDNW Welcome Center volunteer for about three years. I heard an AIDNW radio story, and I knew I wanted to get involved. This has been the best volunteer job I’ve ever had!

Michelle Johnson, AIDNW visitation volunteer

“Lives Are Built Not Just On Our Actions, But On Chance Events.”

September 20, 2023

I met a man, originally from Mexico, who had been brought by his parents to the US as a 7-year-old child. In his thirties he was picked up by ICE in the Northwest US after a traffic violation and sent to the detention center because he was “undocumented”.

Katherine Niall, AIDNW Visitation Coordinator

“Give Visitation A Try – The Experience Will Transform You!”

August 25, 2023

My interest in immigration issues was triggered by Joe Arpaio's reign of terror among immigrants and the fascistic “Papers Please” law (SB1070) passed by the Arizona Senate in 2010.

Dozens Of Volunteers – One Volunteer Coordinator

AIDNW is a lean organization, including just one wonderful Operations Manager who coordinates volunteers to do all the services we provide to immigrants in detention and upon their release, as well as volunteers helping in the office with tasks like depositing phone funds into detained immigrant accounts, organizating gear, and more.

In essence, AIDNW is a volunteer-run organization. Our board members are volunteers. Our committees are all-volunteer. All visits into detention are by volunteers. All pen-pals are volunteers, and all the books, puzzles and deportation bags are put together and delivered into detention by volunteers.

All the people staffing the AIDNW Welcome Center who help immigrants as they walk out of the detention center are volunteers, and the people who drive immigrants to the bus, train, and airport all volunteer. It’s a wonderful community of people with hearts full of love for service to humanity.

Join us and make lifelong friends among immigrants and fellow volunteers! Start by completing a confidential application form via your choice of…

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