Dear Friends!

Because funds for all federally-funded refugee services are either shut off or continue to be indefinitely frozen, refugee agencies in Central Texas have now been forced to furlough their staff and discontinue services to families already living here in our community.

Thousands of refugees in central Texas are now (in the last three weeks) without both promised services such as assistance finding housing and employment, and cash assistance for basic needs.

Austin Jews and Partners for Refugees (AJPR, a 501c3 non-profit) is here to help fill the gap and provide volunteer services and emergency funds to support as many of our newly-arrived neighbors as we can.  Although we have raised over $40,000 to help our new neighbors since July, in light of the current emergency, we need you to rally with us to exceed our current fundraising goal of $50,000 by donating to AJPR, here.

We are also in urgent need of more volunteers for such needs as

-helping to answer the many calls that are coming in from refugees who do not know where to turn,

-assisting with such things as resumes and employment, ESL, making and getting to medical and benefits appointments,

-delivering food and other necessities.

You can sign up to volunteer, here. When signing up, click the tile that says ‘Become an Austin Jews and Partners for Refugees Volunteer’, and you will be contacted about specific opportunities.

We will also be communicating with current AJPR volunteers about those opportunities.

Let’s make sure our newest neighbors feel welcomed and supported, not abandoned.

Please forward this letter to any individuals or groups that would want to help!

“You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it. “
“Pirkei Avot” 2:16

Sherry Blum, for the AJPR Board of Directors