Pelham Jewish Center

A group at the Pelham Jewish Center is working to help a refugee family settle here in our local community.

Who We Are

We are members of the Pelham Jewish Center preparing to sponsor refugees who will soon arrive in the United States. As Jews, our tradition holds that we are obligated to "love the stranger, as you were once strangers in Egypt," and to assist anyone in danger. And as Americans, almost all of us come from families that, at some point, immigrated to this country seeking a better life. Many of us have relatives who were once refugees themselves.

We are participating in a new federal program called Welcome Corps, which enables small groups of citizens to form Private Sponsor Groups (PSGs) that will welcome newcomers and directly assist them as they adjust to their new lives in America. Our partner in this project is Hearts and Homes for Refugees, a Pelham volunteer-driven nonprofit that has been helping refugees settle in Westchester since 2016.

The Work We Are Doing

As a Private Sponsor Group, we will support a refugee family with all aspects of resettlement and adjustment, from their first arrival through at least their first three months. We will support our new neighbors in all aspects of their lives, including finding housing and employment, registering for school, learning English, acquiring financial assistance and medical care, and adjusting to the new culture.

Why We Need Your Donation

As a Private Sponsor Group, we need to raise at least $15,000 to sponsor a family of four for the first three months. The money will go toward housing, food, utilities and other basic needs. Funds will also be used to purchase furniture and other household items and provide transportation. Every cent raised will be used directly to support the families. The more we raise the better we can adequately support the family for three months and beyond. All donations are tax deductible.

More Information

Learn more about the Welcome Corps program and our partner, Hearts & Homes for Refugees.

We hope you will support us in this effort and thank you in advance for your consideration!