BUFFALO, N.Y. — There is a need right now for more volunteers to help Catholic Charities welcome refugee families to Western New York.
Catholic Charities needs volunteers who have time to show people the true meaning of the City of Good Neighbors.
"Right now, we are seeing quite a few arrivals coming in, so we are looking to have volunteers for a variety of tasks to help our new arrivals coming into Buffalo," says Rikki Nawotka-Ace, Senior Director of the Immigration and Refugee Assistance Program at Catholic Charities.
The refugee families are resettled here by Catholic Charities through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/Migration Refugee Services.
Nawotka-Ace says right now the biggest volunteer need is drivers with trucks.
"And (they) can help us get big donations and get those dropped off to new apartments," said Rikki Nawotka-Ace.
Catholic Charities also needs groups of volunteers who can set up new apartments for families, so they don't have to worry about that when they move in.
"Getting together and setting up some pretty artwork, or curtains, just to make it look a little more home-like," said Rikki Nawotka-Ace.
If you don't have time to volunteer, you can donate furniture or other household items. They just ask that it's all new or gently used. If you wouldn't use it yourself, it probably isn't a good thing to donate.
And, if you are great at navigating the bus system, they're also looking for volunteers to teach people how to ride the bus so they can easily get places.
Nawotka-Ace says the feeling you get from volunteering is priceless.
"We've seen from a sigh of relief, to just a smile, to an immediate hug of thank you so much, we're so excited to be here, and just that first relief of joy," said Rikki Nawotka-Ace. "They're maybe some of the first faces that a new arrival is going to see. They're going to be that friendly, smiling face that says you're welcome here in the City of Good Neighbors."