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Volunteer, Sponsor, and Donate Household Items

The JFS Refugee & Immigrant Service Centers are in continual need of volunteers, sponsors and donors of household items to assist our refugee and immigrant clients. Here are ways you can get involved:

VOLUNTEERING

Refugee Mentors:
Mentors help recently arrived refugees become familiar with their new home. Mentors meet with an individual or a family for one to two hours per week during the first three months in the U.S. This is a critical period when refugees need assistance learning the basics of public transportation, the banking system, public schools and managing personal healthcare. Typical mentor activities include deciphering mail, scheduling appointments and socializing in the home or neighborhood. Mentorship helps build confidence and promotes independence for new refugees.

ESL Tutors:
For many refugees, increasing English language skills is the most significant and challenging part of resettlement. It leads to better jobs and greater independence. ESL Tutors work in the client’s home or community, concentrating on conversational and survival English. Tutors can use JFS materials or create their own lessons to model correct English usage and provide supplemental help for the client’s ESL class work.

Donations Assistants:
Housing & Donations Assistants work with our Resources Coordinator to outfit clients’ homes with necessary furniture and household goods. Assistants sort and document items, pick up and deliver donations to clients' homes and help set up homes for new refugee arrivals.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact JFS’ Director of Volunteer Services, at (206) 861-3155.

SPONSORING

Those interested in family reunification should review the current eligible populations for U.S. resettlement: http://www.state.gov/g/prm/c26471.htm.

Individuals, families or congregations interested in making a serious, rewarding, and lasting impact in their own life, as well as the life of a refugee or refugee family, should consider sponsorship. Sponsors agree to provide housing and food for an individual or family for at least the first 30 days following their arrival, and act as a liaison between refugees and their new community. If you are interested in sponsorship, please call (253) 850-4056, or (425) 643-2221 to learn more about the process.

DONATING

RISC welcomes selected donations of furniture, clothing, toys and household items for newly arrived refugees. Donation pick-up is often available. Call (253) 850-4065 to inquire.

Occasionally, we are unable to accept certain items. In these cases, we are happy to point donors in the direction of other agencies whose services RISC and its clients depend upon:


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