Jewish Family Services of Western New York

This project provides a fulfilling opportunity for a team of volunteers (minimum 10-12 people) to collaboratively create a safe and welcoming home environment for a family of refugees who are scheduled to arrive in Buffalo, NY in the near future.

The bulk of this project will consist of collecting new and gently used household items to fill the apartment with. You have until the day of the home set-up to complete your collection (the amount of time will vary). Each team is provided with a list of items needed to complete the home set-up and detailed instructions to ensure that your experience goes smoothly and is meaningful for volunteers.

Here are some ideas to get you started: Reach out to your existing networks, and ask if they have any of the items needed on hand, or if they might be willing to sponsor your project with a monetary donation or by purchasing one of the items. Many of these items can be found at a thrift store or dollar store. Research local community closets, furniture warehouses, or other organizations to see if they might be willing to help. We encourage you and your team to be creative with this process, and have fun with it!

Please follow the list of items and instructions provided very closely, so that you collect quality items that are needed, and don’t over or under-collect. We are always here to answer your questions or address your concerns.

We are typically notified of family arrival dates about two weeks prior to arrival, but often times less. Once an apartment is secured for the family, a member of our volunteer services team will be in contact with you to discuss the best days for your team to set up the apartment. We suggest 2 days- one for cleaning and one for set-up.

Requirements: 

• Age 18+ or upload Youth Consent Form

Client interaction level: None

Time commitment: One-time*

*Some Home Setup Teams go on to form Circles of Care, which provide additional social support to families during the first six months following their arrival in Buffalo. Circles of Care are High client interaction, long-term commitments.