Welcome Refugees to Maine!

Are you passionate about helping refugees and making a difference in your community? There is a place for you to get involved helping refugees build a new life in Maine. Together, we can create stronger, more inclusive communities.

The Jewish Community Alliance (JCA) of Southern Maine provides educational and social programming to enhance Jewish life and continuity locally, in Israel, and around the world. We aim to generate financial resources to develop, support, and provide various services to strengthen our community.

The Southern Maine Agency on Aging has partneredwith the JCA to recruit volunteers for key, impactful roles!

Position Overview:
The JCA is seeking compassionate and dedicated volunteers to fill myriad roles welcoming new Mainers:

Help new Mainers arrive to warm, safe home!
-Housing Task Force: Work with HIAS staff and landlords to identify housing resources.
-Furniture Sourcing: Assist with locating key furniture items to be set up in client homes
-Household Item Sourcing: Assist with finding household items to stage client homes.
-Moving Team: Support JCA staff by picking up and unloading furniture at client home.
-Pre-Arrival Set-Up & House Raising Team: Prepare permanent housing for client arrival by unpacking household items, light cleaning, and staging furniture.

Help new Mainers keep their pantries stocked!
-Grocery Shopping Consultant: Take a new family grocery shopping on a weekly basis.

Offer friendship & cultural mentorship to new Mainers:
-Airport welcome wagon: meet new Mainers when they arrive at the airport; welcome them to our community and drive them to their new housing.
-Mentorship: Support clients by helping them acclimate to life in Maine.
-Digital Literacy: Educate clients on how to adapt to navigate government websites, social media, online translation services, search engines, email and more.
-Financial Literacy: Teach clients important skills such as spending, saving, borrowing, budgeting, earning & taxes.
-Public Transportation Education: Teach clients how to navigate public transportation.

Commitment: Flexible Hours, Commitments range from one day, one time, to ongoing, multiple times per week! There is a role for everyone, and every schedule in welcoming new Mainers!

Ideal Volunteer Qualities:
-Empathy and cultural sensitivity, especially toward refugees' experiences.
-A desire to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
-Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
-Good oral communication and presentation skills.
-Patience and willingness to work with individuals who may have limited English proficiency.
-Must pass a background check.

Training & Support:
-Volunteers will be supported with ongoing training, access to resources, and recognition for their contributions. (Required trainings vary by role! Contact us to find out more!)
-Shadowing an experienced volunteer may bepart of the onboarding process, depending on role.

Benefits of Volunteering:
-Opportunity to directly help refugees transition to a new life in the United States.
-Meet new people and make a positive impact on your community.
-Access to continuous training, support, and recognition through the Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA) and the JCA!

To get started, contact Southern Maine Agency on Aging Volunteer Services at [email protected] or 207-396-6595.