We Put Out a Call for Help to our JFS Community, and You Answered!
Your caring compassionate support makes everything we do possible! We recently put out a call for help to our JFS community, and have been absolutely overwhelmed by the response we’ve received. From financial donations to purchasing items on our Amazon wish-list and signing up to volunteer, we are so grateful to all who have stepped up to support our work.
All over the country, refugee resettlement agencies are in a race to prepare to help incoming Afghans, many of whom are arriving with evacuee status and little other than the clothing on their backs. Close to 1600 Afghans will be resettled in the State of Massachusetts.
Here at JFSWM, we recently welcomed four young Afghan men, and are expecting to take in 150 evacuees, including a group of 60 who we anticipate resettling in the Berkshires.*
Here’s how you can help:
- Housing is a primary focus. We are looking for affordable apartments, Airbnb or vacation homes, accessory dwelling units, and independent housing opportunities.
- Help us fill our wish lists for goods posted on our website and on Facebook. We will continue to add to these lists over the coming weeks.
- Volunteer to help evacuees and SIVs successfully acclimate to their new community. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out an application on our website. *We are thrilled to have received a huge amount of interest in volunteering, and ask that you please be patient to hear back from our staff as they diligently work to process these applications.
- We are seeking pro bono legal assistance to help our new clients become asylees.
- Help us expand our outreach to potential donors. Many of your neighbors and friends may also be looking to ways to respond to this humanitarian crisis. You can forward this letter or go to our Facebook page to share our posts and encourage taking action.
*We are currently looking to hire a Berkshires Resettlement Coordinator to join our New American Program. Please visit our website for position details.
