About Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC): They are a non-profit agency based in North and South Carolina and serves vulnerable populations in both states. All their programs are federal programs—they do all the things needed to get a family settled into life in the US. The New Americans Program, which supports refugees and Humanitarian Parolees, is one of the many programs provided by LSC. The Asheville office was established in January 2022 in response to the crisis in Afghanistan.

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Their clients:  LSC serve Afghan Humanitarian Parolees (close to 100 clients since 2022) and Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees (over 300 clients since March/April 2022). Recently they have been approved for the R&P program and will soon be welcoming refugees from around the world. They anticipate around 70 cases, all of whom will require immediate support.  

Their Core Services: 

• Housing (case by case)

• Furnishings

• Public Benefits

• School Enrollment

• English Support/Speaking Partner

• Health Services

• Cultural Orientation Classes

• Access to employment:

• Job Readiness Classes

• Job Search

• Interviews

 

Ways to support LSC: 

Volunteer Support: 

• Form and be a part of the Circle of Welcome: a team of at least 6-10 people committed to walking alongside a matched refugee family for 6 months to one year. To be a Circle of Welcome, you would need to have a committed group of people and two members willing to be leaders. The leaders are responsible for communication/logistics with LSC’s team and organizing the logistics for the COW team. All volunteers would undergo background checks and training with LSC. The Circle of Welcome aims to welcome the family and provide support with core services such as assisting LSC in finding leads for housing, setting up homes, acquiring seasonal clothing, airport pick-up, providing a welcoming meal, scheduling and providing transportation assistance for health screening needs, SSN application, benefits application, assisting with employment (transportation to job interviews), assisting with school enrollment and transportation to school, providing public transportation training, and more.

• Serve as a youth mentor for clients aged 15-24. Help mentees develop their social skills, learn about American culture, create their first resume, research career development opportunities, and provide financial literacy training.

• Serve our adult clients as English-Speaking partners, exposing them to English and culture while helping them learn vocabulary necessary for obtaining or retaining a job.

• Have your name added to the list of volunteers to transport clients (you can always decline if you are unavailable).

• Assist with coordinating furniture donations (pick up and drop off). 

• Assist in collecting furniture and furnishing homes for new arrivals.

 

Other Support: 

• Provide in-kind donations such as furniture, essential home goods in good condition, welcome kits (cleaning supplies welcome kit), and kitchen welcome kits (e.g., pots, pans, skillets, plates, etc.).

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Please contact LSC's Outreach Coordinator, Anna Khaver, at akhaver@lscarolinas.net with any questions.