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REFUGEE ARRIVAL EXPECTED 8/18:

JFS Delaware and our RISE (Refugee Integration Support Effort) Team are excited to announce that we are expecting to welcome a refugee family from Rwanda on August 18th! This family of 3 includes a husband and wife in their 30's and his mother in her 70's; they are fluent in French and English and we have been informed that the husband has a Master's degree.

Please help JFS facilitate this family's successful resettlement by giving them as warm a welcome as every family that came before them!

For ways to get involved, read details below.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:

PRIORITY #1 — Securing safe, affordable housing
For this family, we are in search of a suitable 2-bedroom apartment in New Castle County. If you are a landlord or have any connections that may be helpful, please email Cyndi Germack, Director of Family Support Services, at [email protected].
DONATIONS — Making Delaware HOME
Once an apartment is secured, we will need help furnishing it and transforming it into a home. Visit the link below to review the list of needed items for the family and enter your information beside the items you will donate.


NOTE: We will only accept NEW or very gently used items; the spreadsheet will specify which items MUST be new.

Drop-Off/Delivery:
Items can be dropped off to the JFS Wilmington office* during one of the time windows listed below:
Wednesday, August 11 from 10:30AM-1:30PM
Friday, August 13 from 4-6PM
Monday, August 16 from 2-4PM

Please indicate on the WishList spreadsheet during which of these times you will be delivering items.

JFS Volunteer Coordinator, Emily Griffith, will be there to coordinate these deliveries. If none of the available times work for you, contact Emily at [email protected] to coordinate an alternate drop-off or delivery option.

*We ask that larger items (such as furniture) be held in your possession until direct delivery to the secured apartment can be coordinated. Please indicate on the WishList spreadsheet if you are able to deliver the large item yourself or if you will need assistance (i.e. someone with a truck). If you have questions, contact Emily at [email protected].
VOLUNTEER — You can make a difference
Refugee resettlement involves various opportunities and levels of volunteer engagement to supplement the coordination and case management provided by JFS staff. Volunteer activities can take place before, during, or after a family's arrival and may include one-time or ongoing commitments.

Current volunteer needs and opportunities include:
  • Apartment Set-Up: meet JFS staff at the secured apartment (time & date TBD) to help clean and furnish the space with donated items.
  • Furniture/Donation Delivery: volunteer your time and the use of your truck, mini-van, or other vehicle to transport large donation items (such as furniture) to the apartment during set-up (time & date TBD).
  • Translator(s): This family requires a translator who is fluent in French. Immediate needs will include the day/night of their arrival (exact time TBD) and likely some additional times in the first few days or weeks.
  • Once the family is settled and Case Managers can assess their needs, additional opportunities will come available to be more involved directly with the family. Please let us know if you are interested in these opportunities as they will require some additional orientation and paperwork (i.e. background checks, cultural sensitivity training, etc.)

Please sign up on the spreadsheet below or contact Emily at [email protected] if you are interested to help with these tasks.


Learn more about RISE & Volunteering:
JFS Volunteer Coordinator, Emily Griffith, will be hosting an information session via Zoom on Tuesday, August 10th at 11AM to provide more information about the RISE process, volunteer opportunities, and ways to get involved. If you are interested, RSVP to Emily at [email protected].
We will continue to provide updates on donation, volunteer, and other needs for the family before and after their arrival. THANK YOU for your support.
FYI: Special Immigrant Visas from Afghanistan
Due to the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan, there has been a significant increase in Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) cases being evacuated and relocated to American resettlement affiliates. SIV's are individuals who provided assistance (such as translation services) to the US army and are now in very real danger. While no cases have been assigned to us yet, JFS Delaware is prepared to welcome any SIV cases that are designated to us from HIAS.

Check out the video about SIV, Sadiq, and his experience being resettled in by JFS in 2017.
JFS is grateful for direct donations to support our mission.
You can make a gift designated to RISE to help incoming and future families with immediate needs such as food, clothing, and rent assistance!
Jewish Family Services of Delaware (JFS) is a nonprofit human services agency with a mission to strengthen individuals, families, and the community by providing counseling and support services. With an interdisciplinary and innovative approach, we combine talent, expertise, and leadership to make our robust therapeutic and support services available to everyone, regardless of religion, race, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or special need.
99 Passmore Road
Wilmington, DE 19803

20684 John J Williams Hwy, Suite 4
Lewes, DE 19958

(302) 478-9411