Austin Jews & Partners
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Because It Takes a Village
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Resettlement is a moral imperative.
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“Welcoming the stranger” is our privilege.
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Our Jewish tradition teaches us that there is no higher obligation than to save the life of another. Faced with one of the largest refugee crises in human history, Austin Jews & Partners for Refugees (AJPR) was formed to raise our voices for the rights, safety, and very lives of people who are fleeing genocide, persecution, and war. In partnership with Refugee Services of Texas, and other faith and community organizations...
we are committed to aiding those who been have forced to leave their homes.
From Jewish Community to Partnership
We began as a group of volunteers from the Austin Jewish Community who wanted to make an impact assisting refugees. And, because so many felt compelled to help, we soon became an organization of broad-based Austin interfaith and community-based partnerships. From September 2021 to May of 2022, and in partnership with Refugee Services of Texas, (the local resettlement agency), our grass-roots group of volunteers touched almost all of the 900 Afghan refugees who settled in Austin. We mobilized in the crisis to provide transportation, meals, groceries, and many connections to other services. We raised over $100,000 in cash and $70,000 in kind donations and provided about 20,000 hours of volunteer time and energy with over 200 volunteers.
From Crisis to Integration
Now, six months after the emergency airlift of Afghan Refugees to Austin, AJPR is focused on programs to assist refugee families more fully integrate into the Austin community.
- We are the key group supporting RST with assistance for shot clinics, ESL programs, furniture pickup and storage, groceries to families who have food insecurities, and supporting iACT summer camp for kids.
- Salaam Neighbors: program designed to assist specific families for 3 months after resettlement.
- Baby Buddies: AJPR partners with RST to pair female volunteers with refugee women who are giving birth in the next few months. Many women find themselves in a strange place without their parents and extended family and “baby buddy” volunteers provide transportations to medical appointments and emotional support.
From Grass Roots Volunteers to Non-Profit Organization
AJPR has partnerships throughout the Austin community and has now received a grant and hired a full-time Volunteer Coordinator for the organization. We are pursuing non-profit corporation status and will apply to receive 501c3 status, as well. Until we complete this process, you can donate to support our mission through the Temple Beth Shalom Refugee Task Force fund, below.
Donate
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The easiest way to send money is to donate to the Refugee Task Force. Cash will be used on groceries, meals, clothes, welcome dinners and any needed items directly to the refugees.
(anyone can donate here, fill out the form, press submit, and a drop down menu will have the Refugee Task Force as an option. It's TAX DEDUCTIBLE)
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Photo from DVIDSHUB
