After months of planning, training and furniture procurement, a cohort of volunteers from Congregation Beth Shalom formed their first ambassador group to welcome a newly-arrived refugee family.
Launched in 2023, the Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) ambassador program is an initiative that provides the framework for individuals from civic, social, faith-based and/or charitable organizations or businesses to support a newly-arrived refugee family for their first six months in Kansas City. Rooted in JVS’ core value that all people have intrinsic worth and dignity, ambassador groups are created to work in collaboration with JVS staff and service providers to engage, encourage and empower people to achieve social, cultural and economic integration in the Greater Kansas City metro area.
In March, the Beth Shalom ambassador group welcomed a young family from Afghanistan. In preparation for the family’s arrival, volunteers secured furniture donations and household items that they would use to set up an apartment for the family. Volunteers packed a U-Haul van with couches, dressers and tables and showed up at the apartment prepared to clean, stock the pantry and assemble beds. Days later, volunteers greeted the family at the airport and welcomed them to Kansas City with balloons and welcome signs.
Over the next six months, these volunteers will walk alongside the family by helping them learn how to ride a city bus, get library cards, practice English and show them how to navigate a grocery store, among other things. In addition to helping the family integrate into their new community, the ambassadors will also be able to share cultural and community events and sites like the City Market, zoo or Deanna Rose Farmstead.
The Beth Shalom Ambassador group includes Carol and Lew Berey; Cindy and Rob Daniels; Jerry Enslein and Hannah Harris; Deb Finkelstein; Karen and Eitan Gerson; Andy and Terri Miro; Sylvie Radvinsky; Alan Edelman and Debbie Sosland-Edelman; Lloyd Stahl; Josh, Sheryl, Jonah and Leora Stein; Edward Goldstein and Rachel Krantz; Ken and Sheila Sonnenschein; and Ellen Polsky.
Those interested in learning more about the work of JVS and the Ambassador program can contact the JVS volunteer team at . The work of JVS is possible because of support and volunteers like the Beth Shalom ambassadors.
