The Latest Ways to Get Involved: January 20, 2022
By Marisa Tesoro
Kansas City
JVS
JVS is asking for your support, please help us raise funds to purchase additional minivans/mini buses to transport clients. Donate to the JVS transportation fund at www.jvskc.org/give/ ! Questions? Contact development@jvskc.org
Are you interested in volunteering with JVS? Register to be a volunteer here, then check out their upcoming volunteer opportunities here!
JVS Health and Wellness Social work program provides at-risk youth and adults with advocacy, community resource referral, and individual and group therapy. You can help provide additional support to these families and children through purchasing items from their Amazon wish list here.
JVS is asking for support in raising funds to purchase additional minivans/mini buses to transport clients. Donate to the JVS transportation fund at www.jvskc.org/give/. Just remember to make a note in the comment section that your donation is for the Transportation Fund if that’s your intended purpose.
Della Lamb
When an Afghan family moves into their home, they are greeted with a fully stocked fridge! However, they quickly need more groceries and that’s where Della Lamb’s food pantry comes in!
They are in need of a restock, so if you’re able to do a neighborhood food drive, drop off some groceries or even do an Instacart delivery, their families would be so grateful. Food donations can be brought to Della Lamb at 500 Woodland Ave. between 9 a.m. and noon Monday-Friday.
And if you’d prefer to donate financially, you can do so here, and select “social services.”
By the end of February, Della Lamb will have welcomed 45 children 4 and under and 37 kids ages 5-7. That’s a lot of car seats and boosters. When families with young children and babies move into long-term housing, they receive car seats. They are reliant on case managers and volunteers for transportation, and this ensures they can all be transported safely and together. Check out their Amazon wish list to find exactly what they need.
And they are always happy to have volunteers, so feel free to sign up here!
Central Missouri
CCCNMO Refugee Services
Need a fulfilling and awesome part-time job? Catholic Charities Refugee Services is looking for EL teachers to staff English learning classes for refugees as they continue their work of supporting the 270+ Afghan refugees who have arrived in the past three months. Qualifications needed are a bachelor’s degree and teaching experience. Compensation is $20/hr. Learn more and apply here.
You can also donate to their upcoming Baby Shower for Afghan Moms. One of the many Afghan moms who made it to Columbia traveled thousands of miles while pregnant and even slept in a waterlogged tent at one point as she and her family were on their way to seek refuge in the United States. You can read more about her story here.
Southwest Missouri
RAISE
With 100 arrivals expected before Valentine’s Day, RAISE is looking for some help.
They have some specific furniture needs: dining room table and 8 chairs, sofas, love seats, dressers, coffee tables. (Any clothing donations to can be sent to Crosslines.)
They are also looking for volunteers to help with childcare during women’s ESL, Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to noon. Facebook message RAISE if interested.
St. Louis
International Institute
They are expecting 74 more Afghan Placement and Assistance program (APA) arrivals expected by mid-February.
Currently, there is one case of 7 people, three cases of 8 and a case of nine who all need housing urgently. Reach out with any leads or potential housing options: Galib Likic, likicg@iistl.org; Abdul Wahid
Noori, nooria@iistl.org
To learn more about their new Community Support Program (where groups can support a new family upon arrival), content Wafa Osman, osmanw@iistl.org.
IISTL’s Youth Mentoring program is also looking for volunteer tutors!
January 27 – May 19
Monday – Thursday, 3:45 PM – 5:30 PM
Volunteers must commit to tutoring 1 – 2 days each week
Volunteers will tutor individual students, small groups, and help with homework
Volunteers may lead recreational activities
In-person and online tutoring opportunities
More info can be found on their flier here.
To volunteer, visit their site to learn more about episodic and ongoing opportunities to get involved.