It’s springtime at Sanctuary, and we are thrilled to share what’s been happening in our programs and what’s to come!

Sarah Burke House, Sanctuary’s large transitional shelter, has welcomed twelve individual volunteers, two interns, and over fifteen workshop leaders for the After School Program this spring. You can find the kids enjoying their weekly trips to the library, engaging in STEM workshops, creating beautiful artwork, participating in Girl Scouts, and more!

Twelve students are currently receiving educational support through Homework Help Lab that offers virtual 1-1 tutoring for our school-aged clients on Wednesdays. Naomi Gans, who has been a dedicated Sanctuary tutor since 2021, is being honored for her commitment to our school aged clients at Pillars of Change on April 9th.

Conversation Group started a new cohort in March, welcoming eight new volunteers to help enhance client’s conversational English skills. Participants are gaining increased confidence speaking English through this volunteer-led program; helping them overcome day-to-day barriers.

We are deeply grateful to our Corporate Partners for organizing Kit Building Events that benefit survivors at Sanctuary in a variety of ways:

• Latham & Watkins LLP: 160 Cozy Kits
• WilmerHale: 100 Valentine’s Day Kits
• Sony Corporation of America: 100 Toiletry Kits & 100 Art Kits
• MetLife: 80 Kits for Sanctuary’s Camp HOPE
• Bloomberg: 500 Shower Kits

If your company or group is interested in supporting Sanctuary through a donation of goods or organizing a “Kit Building” event, please contact us at inkind@sffny.org.

Dulce Luna

Volunteer Translator

Dulce has worked on urgent translation needs for Sanctuary’s Legal Center for the last several years. She not only provides document translation, but also assists with interpreting client meetings to help overcome communication barriers.

Language access is crucial for survivors of gender-based violence, as it ensures they can fully understand their rights, seek support, and navigate legal and other systems without barriers, empowering them to rebuild their lives with dignity.

We are so grateful to Dulce for her dedicated support!

Upcoming and Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities

• Translation Volunteers
  Flexible schedule
  Document translation opportunities for 30+ languages
• Summer Internships
  Now accepting applications
  To learn more and apply, click here
• Virtual Tutoring
  Assist an adult client study for her Ability to Benefit test
  Email us at volunteer@sffny.org

Join Sanctuary at the following panels and celebrations:

• April 9: Pillars of Change, Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event (RSVP)
• April 14: Panel "The DVSJA in 2025," in person & virtual (RSVP)
• May 6: Survivor-Owned Small Business Fair (details coming soon)
• June 4: Zero Tolerance Benefit (Get Tickets)

Mark your calendars for Sanctuary’s upcoming volunteer orientations on May 20th, 12-1 PM and 5-6 PM.

Questions? Please contact us at volunteer@sffny.org.