First Church Provides Space and Volunteers for Welcome to newly arrived families
May 14, 2024
We are pleased that First Church has built a strong relationship with partners at the state and local level. Because of this, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, along with Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI), its contracted case management agency, started renting space at First Church this past week, and will continue each Monday-Thursday through June 20. IFSI provides state-mandated case management, ESOL, workforce development, preschool education, and other services to residents of the East Cambridge Shelter, many of whom we have met over the last several Tuesdays.
While we are not holding our own Welcome Center on Tuesdays for the moment, IFSI still wants our help! They would love volunteers who’d like to work directly with guests on the following:
- practicing English
- building job skills
- preparing resumes
- helping with preschool education
IFSI are the experts in this case management work; we are volunteering for them with the support of their experienced bilingual staff and systems.
Volunteers are needed each Monday-Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., May 20 – June 20.
It is fine if you can attend only one day during the period or are able to volunteer more days. There are only 5 more weeks to help out with this new initiative!
Rolling Luggage Needed
We would like to provide rolling suitcases (or rolling duffles) to families for storing and moving around with their belongings. If you can donate any rolling luggage, please let us know!
Reach out to Martha Cook at: marthamuellercook@gmail.com
Refugee Ministry Update: Meeting a New Need
May 8, 2024
We are happy to share the great success of the three Welcome Centers we recently hosted for migrant families living in the East Cambridge emergency shelter. Thanks to the wonderful generosity and energy of our volunteers, we provided ESOL to an engaged and motivated group of 67 adults, safe and fun childcare to 26 children, and a delicious hot lunch to all!
The program is now in transition. We are pleased that First Church has built a strong relationship with partners at the state and local level. Because of this, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, along with Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI), its contracted case management agency, will be renting space at First Church Monday-Thursday from May 13 to June 20. IFSI will be providing state-mandated case management, ESOL, workforce development, and other services to residents of the East Cambridge Shelter, many of whom we have been working with over the last few Tuesdays.
While we will not be holding our own Welcome Center on Tuesdays for the moment, IFSI still wants our help! They would love volunteers who’d like to work directly with guests on the following:
- small-group ESOL classes
- practicing English
- building job skills
- preparing resumes
- helping with preschool education
IFSI are the experts in this case management work; we will be volunteering for them with the full support of their experienced bilingual staff and systems, and utilizing their bilingual materials to help us. Ideally, IFSI would like to establish ongoing relationships between volunteers and specific families, partnering over the 6-week period one-on-one to develop needed skills. For the children, the work will be assisting with discrete activities under the managed preschool program of their Academic Director, such as drawing or painting with a small group.
Volunteers are needed each Monday-Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., May 13 – June 20. To establish partnered relationships with migrants, it is preferred that people commit to the same morning(s) each week as much as possible. If you cannot do that – let us know, we still welcome your help!
If you can volunteer or to learn more, please reach out to Martha Cook at:
marthamuellercook@gmail.com
Refugee Ministry Welcome Center Opens April 23
April 10, 2024
First Church is hosting a Welcome Center on Tuesdays, April 23 & 30 and May 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to welcome migrant families living at the recently-opened MA Safety Net Family Shelter in East Cambridge. These families need to vacate the shelter every weekday, and we hope to provide a safe and welcoming space that includes a midday meal, ESOL classes, childcare for children aged 0-4 (who are not old enough for school), information on free City family resources, and time for relaxing and socializing. To make this happen – we need volunteers! We especially need:
- Two people for childcare
- Translators for Haitian Creole and Spanish
- People to manage the meal
- And volunteers for set-up and logistics
- In addition, there is an “off-site” need for someone to compile info on Cambridge family resources (playgrounds, waterparks, etc.) to share; much of this information is available on City websites.
If you would like to volunteer or learn more, please reach out to Martha Cook at: marthamuellercook@gmail.com
We look forward to hearing from you soon about getting involved!