Social Action
WJCI mobilizes congregations and individuals throughout the metro New York area with unique opportunities to support asylum seekers, refugees and other immigrants through various actions.
Ukrainian Crisis Response
Welcome Circles & Microgrants
To support resettlement efforts for newly arrived Ukrainians, WJCI created a microgrant program with generous funding from UJA--Federation of New York, Jewish Federations of North Americas (JFNA), and The Shapiro Foundation. We provided grants to newly formed and certified HIAS Welcome Circles and served as a Welcome Circle Liaison to guide sponsors through best practices. Thank you to all who sponsored a Ukrainian family fleeing war. We are grateful for your dedication and support.
Highlights of Previous Actions
Thank you to the members of UJA NY Larchmont Mamaroneck who made 183 Dignity Project bags for refugee women containing sanitary products. We are so grateful for partners like this!
Thank you to the 250+ people who came out for UJA Federation of NY's Annual Gift of Hanukkah event. They assembled and wrapped 500 kits filled with arts and craft supplies which will go to refugee children and teens in Westchester including clients of ReSET, Neighbors for Refugees, Congregation Sons of Israel Briarcliff Manor, and Open Arms for Refugees.
Thank you to Elena's Light for partnering with us on the Afghan Women's Circle! We have concluded our 5-week course and all attendees will continue working with their mentors to adjust to life in America.
Youth-Led Projects
We are so proud of our WJCI teen interns who formed and hosted the Ukrainian Teen Girls Group at JCC Mid-Westchester to do fun group activities and foster community amongst newly arrived refugees. We are so proud of this beautiful effort and can't wait for it to expand after the summer.
Thank you to these wonderful Mamaroneck High School students from Students for Refugees! They sorted and bagged donated groceries for Neighbors for Refugees families. SFR MHS did many other incredible things this year, including helping with the Afghan Women's Circle and starting a club for Ukrainian teen girls.
Kudos to Lulu from Westchester Jewish Center who made these welcome baskets full of essential items for a dozen newly arrived refugee families in and around Westchester as part of her Bnai Mitzvah Project.