How to Help the Asylum Seekers
As the City of Portland responds to the over 150 asylum seekers who arrived in Portland this past week, our community is asking how they can help.
Portland has received more than 150 asylum seekers over the past few days (who started their journey from several African countries, traveled through South America, and entered through the Southern US Border). They are not yet eligible for state and federal aid. Portland family shelters have exceeded capacity.
Please see below for options to volunteer or donate.
VOLUNTEER
The United Way of Greater Portland is coordinating volunteer response for asylum seekers on behalf of the City of Portland. For those interested in volunteering to help support the asylum seekers who arrived in Portland over the past week, please fill out the form below. Please note: They have had such an incredible outpouring of support that at this time, the United Way will collect your name for when needed, but won’t process anyone else for the coming few weeks. If they don’t need to activate more volunteers, a status update and ways to engage will be provided at the end of summer.
https://www.unitedwaygp.org/2019/06/14/expo-shelter/
DONATE MONEY
You can donate money to the City of Portland’s Community Support Fund by texting Expo to 91999 or go to portlandmaine.gov/donate.
DONATE ITEMS
If you would like to donate items, please do so through the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition (MIRC). They are working with the city to collect and organize needed items like clothes, hygiene products, and other items (https://www.unitedwaygp.org/…/looking-to-help-asylum-seeke…/). Donations should go to MIRC, not the Expo.
About United Way of Greater Portland: For 90 years, United Way of Greater Portland (UWGP)’s mission has been to improve people’s lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community. Today, UWGP unites individuals and organizations around our community’s shared vision, Thrive2027, three 10-year goals to improve education, financial stability, and health for every person in Greater Portland. With community partners, UWGP builds on strategies that are known to achieve the best results, and rigorously evaluates progress toward those goals. Everyone has a role to play in building a thriving community, and UWGP actively seeks to engage donors, advocates, and volunteers to create measurable, long-lasting community change. Learn more at unitedwaygp.org