Supporting Afghani and Other People
Who Will be Newly Arriving In
The Philadelphia Area 

 

Refugee

Barbara Hoekje sends us this information for Friends interested in supporting Afghani and other people who will be newly arriving in the Philadelphia area, below are two ways you can find ways to help. 
To contact Barbara click here to send a email to barbara.hoekje@gmail.com


Support immigrant and refugee support organizations such as: 
 
1. HIAS-PA  (https://hiaspa.org/) click here
        This program has a long history of supporting refugee and immigrant peoples, starting as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS).  I have been doing citizenship tutoring, and John and I have prepared meals and done grocery shopping through their services. They have a wide variety of volunteer positions available, and you can check their website.

  • To do direct volunteer work, you have to go through an orientation (1.5 hours online) held monthly. The next orientation is September 1. 
    • To do direct service with clients you have to get background checks. I can walk you through these steps if you like.
  • Of course monetary donations are always welcomed,
  • Programs such as “Cradles to Crayons” support families of all backgrounds (relocated from Conshohocken to East Falls).
    • https://www.cradlestocrayons.org/philadelphia/ click here


 
2. Nationalities Services Center (Philadelphia) https://nscphila.org/ click here
   NSC has run ESL classes and provided a wide variety of services to the highly diverse community in Philadelphia for one hundred years. They offer programs and many ways to give, including buying gift cards for groceries and other supplies. 

To purchase items household and health items for refugees
To see what is currently needed by refugees in our area click here to see the HIAS registry at Target stores
Target registry https://www.target.com/gift-registry/gift-giver?registryId=a288d83a-8941-11eb-a5ee-610070ece65f&type=CHARITY
 
Donating used household goods and used clothing 
Click here for  guidelines from HIAS-PA and NSC and their partner organizations,
Donations (clothing and furniture)
https://hiaspa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/HIAS-PA-Alternative-Donation-Destinations-_-2019.pdf
 
Click here information about donating goods to NSC, including partnership programs:  https://nscphila.org/donate-goods