04/24/2026
During Volunteer Appreciation Week, we want to recognize, thank, and honor all of our dedicated Bridge Volunteers.
With flexibility and patience, our volunteers give Bridge and our clients their valuable time, skills, and often, their treasures, too.
Bridge would not be able to welcome and serve refugees to help them preserve their Dignity, Hope, and Opportunity without our volunteers' selfless service.
Today, from our Knoxville branch, we would like to introduce you to one of our valued and dedicated volunteers, Celia Niebler.
1. How long have you been volunteering with Bridge?
I have been volunteering with Bridge since September 2025.
2. What inspired you to start volunteering with Bridge Refugee Services?
I was introduced to the opportunity through a friend who had been in contact with Peter about starting an ELL class at UT Medical Center. When she asked if I’d be interested in helping teach, I was immediately excited about the idea of supporting others through language learning and getting involved in the community in a meaningful way.
3. What are some of the volunteer activities you’ve been involved in, and could you share a favorite memory or moment from your time with us?
I’ve primarily been involved in teaching the ELL class, which has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Beyond helping students improve their English, I’ve really valued the relationships built in the classroom. One of my favorite memories from teaching has been getting to know all of the students and being able to tailor some of the lessons towards their interests and needs. I think one of the best classes was our most recent one. We were able to break the class into two teams, and they competed in different games.
4. What is something you’ve learned about yourself, our local community, or the world while volunteering with Bridge?
Before this experience, I had never been a teacher, so it’s been really rewarding to learn how to engage students and adapt to different learning styles. I’ve also gained a deeper appreciation for the local community and the diverse backgrounds of the people within it. One of the most unique parts of this program is the opportunity to teach students directly at their workplace, which makes learning more accessible and immediately relevant to their daily lives. It’s been inspiring to be part of something like that, and I hope the program continues to grow and succeed even after I move on.
