Good Neighbors of Capitol Hill

GOOD NEIGHBORS CAPITOL HILL - REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT GROUP

Good Neighbors Capitol Hill is a coalition of 8 Capitol Hill congregations and unaffiliated friends working together since 2016 to support refugee families in Prince George’s County. Most of the families are SIV interpretors and their families from Afghanistan along with a few families fleeing violence from Central America.  Our team has established 115 apartments with donations of furnishings, monies and volunteers from Capitol Hill and nearby Maryland community of Cheverly. We have fully supported one family and substantially assisted many others during their resettlement through financial assistance and volunteer tutors and mentors.

Through our partnerships with Lutheran Social Services, Solutions for Hometown Connections, International Rescue Committee, Ethiopian Community Development Council and other refugee assistance organizations, we welcome donors and volunteers to help us expand this mission to refugees, migrants, asylum seekers and humanitarian parolees.

Employment Mentoring: Assist with job search for achieving financial independence. GNCH can introduce volunteers to a refugee seeking counsel or we can connect volunteers to our partner resettlement agencies who can guide and support this relationship.

Fundraising: Funds are needed for furnishing apartments as well as emergency and basic subsidies for underemployed families.  We also receive some applicants requesting support for education and training programs..  We welcome volunteers with great ideas who can help GNCH organize benefit events for funding our initiatives.  

Furnishings: Volunteers with strong backs are essential for our "moving operations".  It's like a day at the gym but with a larger purpose.  We also need interior decorators who have a great eye for using our wonderful donated furniture and accessories. This is a rather spontanious volunteer effort as we try to respond quickly when the resettlement agency needs an apartment furnished. Put your name on our Volunteer List for a notification and some when you can to exercise your "Kindness Muscles" with GNCH.

Tutoring: GNCH can guide you to partner agencies where volunteers receive excellentl training to help families gain basic language capacity. Non-literate Afghan wives are learning survival English. Children and teens can also benefit from peer tutors virtually or in person.  High School students can receive service credits through these tutoring programs.

Communications: Assist us as we broaden our visibility and network in the wider community. Help us organize events, write our news briefs, monitor our web-site and develop pubic information programs through which our refugee community can particpate and meet new friends.

The most essential requirement for volunteering is a commitment to welcoming and mentoring individuals and families as they transition to a new life in the United States. Refugees leave behind extended family support systems, jobs and cultural lifestyle. They benefit from friendships while gaining confidence, trust and skills for developing self-sufficiency in a new society. Volunteers and donors benefit as we open our hearts and widen our awareness.

Thanks for your support of GNCH Refugee Resettlement Group.