Twelve local Jewish organizations, including Jewish Family Services and Jewish Vocational Service, have created what they say is a coalition of inclusion named Jewish Voices United.
The goal is to "promote positive relationships" amongst the city's diverse population, mainly by helping refugees who settle in the Kansas City metro who may need help with food, household items or transportation.
"Almost all Jews were immigrants or refugees, and so we know what that's like, so we want to reach out and help them,” said Don Goldman of Jewish Voices United and CEO of Jewish Family Services.
"We see other people being victimized and marginalized. We know what that's like. We want to do something,” he said.
Jewish Voices United hopes to supply food, household items, and even transportation to more than 300 metro families this year. They hope to help not only refugee or immigrant families, but also any group of people who may be victimized or marginalized. They’ve already seen a flood of momentum, especially from dozens of volunteers within the community who want to help.
"In the current political climate, I think I wanted to use my energy for something positive,” said Maria Solis, a new Jewish Voices United volunteer who has been packing care packages for refugees and will soon be a volunteer driver for the new ‘Refugee Rides’ program under the JVU umbrella.
"We're just going to provide them, we want them to have a good life and be able to feed their families,” said Goldman.
JVU is already offering several programs for local families. To learn more about the programs available and how to get involved, you can read more on their website JewishVoicesUnited.org.
