How To Come Alongside Our New Neighbors
(See below for Organizations working with our New Neighbors)
We’re continually updating this page, so if you're aware of opportunities that are not on our list, please send details to lmarieswan@gmail.com and we will share. (Please confirm the details before you pass them on.) We know that needs will change over time, as our neighbors transition from impromptu shelter in unsatisfactory places, to better shelters, and eventually to more permanent housing. Opportunities for donations will change as well. So do check back from time to time.
So much is happening right now. (1/23/2024) There are lots of ways you can support newly arrived families in our community.
Do you have time Monday, Wednesday, or Friday mornings from 9:30-11:30am?
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You could help with adult English classes taught at our partner The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, either with the class, or by playing with the children that parents bring with them. Contact Amy at 801-319-7177.
Do you have time Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday afternoons from 3:45-5pm?
Do you have time on weekends?
Are you free on Tuesdays between 10am -3pm?
Please look at the Government Resources that list many ways to get involved and give resources that can help you guide our new neighbors to the resources they need:
Welcome to IL
IDHS Welcome Centers
IDHS Refugee Program
IDHS Support Services for Recent Arrivals
ESL: If you are interested 1:1 tutoring or helping people with their English, please let Maureen Graves know. She has great materials that could help you. maureenrgraves@gmail.com, 949-466-4248. There are also English classes at the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club Saturday 12:30 to 3:30 and Sunday 2:30 to 5:30.
Donations of warm clothes, coats, blankets, etc.; toys; children's books, bus cards, household items and furniture are still needed. Basically, anything that is clean and useful is likely to be helpful to some of the new neighbors, since people are at all stages from sleeping outside of police stations to moving into apartments. Maureen is willing to receive them on her front porch at 1326 E Madison Park. at any time. Please no large, hard for a strong person to move, furniture without first speaking to her. maureenrgraves@gmail.com, 949-466-4248
Work Permits
The Resurrection Project Announces Effort For Work Permits Please read this article to learn how you may be able to help our new neighbors have the documents they need to work.
The Hyde Park Herald has an excellent article about how to help our new neighors. CLICK HERE
Below is a step-by-step description the Work Permit process in English that we hope to post in Spanish soon as a supplement to the above information.
Who can get a work permit?
Migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua can qualify for work
permits in two ways:
1. TPS (Temporary Protected Status). TPS protects people from deportation
and allows them to work legally in the U.S. To qualify for TPS you must have
arrived in the U.S. by July 31, 2023.
2. Humanitarian parole. This applies to a much smaller number of people who
generally applied for this program from their home country.
What documents will I need?
1. Your passport(s) or other forms of ID.
2. A list of the countries you entered and exited from on your way to the U.S.
with exact dates for each country.
3. For TPS, you will have to prove that you were here by July 31, 2023.
4. You will have to fill out immigration forms, preferably with the help of a
qualified attorney or expert.
What does this cost?
1. The combined TPS and work permit fee is $545.
2. The work permit alone or under humanitarian parole is $410.
3. You might not have to pay these fees if you fill out a waiver application or
submit a written request and documentation of your inability to pay.
Where can I get help?
If you are staying in a city shelter, start by asking a shelter case manager about city workshops to help with work permits. The case manager can help you schedule an appointment at a downtown location where experts help people with the application process. If you don’t live in a city shelter, there are several organizations that can help, though there may be a wait. These include:
World Relief Chicagoland
773-583-9191
Erie Neighborhood House Association
773-231-7884
eriehouseimmigration@gmail.com
The Resurrection Project
312-666-3062
Centro Romero
773-508-5300
legald@centroromero.org
Chicago Lega Clinic
24-Hour Intake: 312-726-2938
Leave a message in Spanish
Catholic Charities of Chicago
312-427-7078
You may also pay a private attorney to help you, but be careful: some people try
to take advantage of migrants. Go to the American Immigration Lawyers Association to make sure an attorney is accredited.
Warm Clothing Needed
One Warm Coat- put in your zip code and learn where you can drop off a coat, or host a coat drive.
Help with Language
Can you speak Spanish? We are desperately in need of Spanish speakers to help support our newly arrived neighbors in the community. There are opportunities to work with children and adults, to provide outreach, and to provide information to the new members of our community. Email Lisa at: hydeparkrefugeeproject@gmail.com to find out more!
We are currently looking for Spanish-speaking volunteers for the following needs:
- Deliver meals and talk with newly arrived immigrants.
- Welcome families to the Hyde Park Art Center open day on October 14th (see attached flyer);
- Volunteer at our local schools to help families and teachers!
- Volunteer to welcome families to the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club Sunday programming.
- Play soccer and baseball with StreetSoccer USA!
- Be a friend, mentor, or tutor.
- Help people access resources.
Please email Hyde Park Refuge Project to learn about how you can help.
Many local groups and individuals are collecting clothing, tents, and bedding for new arrivals. There is a particular need for men's clothing and coats. For more information, please contact Brenda at 773-621-2243.
Lake Shore Hotel
People organizing to help the migrating people who are staying at the Lake Shore Hotel have appealed for warm clothing, blankets and suitcases.
Link for Lake Shore Hotel Support Group
Furniture Donations: City's Furniture Bank.
Organizations Providing Information and Resources
Chicago4All
They are a grassroots effort whose goal is to shift the narrative from xenophopic comments and build community for all.
What they Offer through partner organizations:
- Monthly Clean and Green events (litter pick up), led by Light of the World Church
- Clean up begins at Light Light of the World Church (840 E 65th) and ends at the Wadsworth shelter
- April 15, community Banquet at First Presbyterian Church
- Soccer games - being planned. Stay tuned
They collect clothing, food, hygiene products and other donations for new arrivals and partners with groups including New Life Centers, the Instituto del Progreso Latino and One Warm Coat, among others. To view the list and connect with city partners, visit chicago.gov/city/en/sites/texas-new-arrivals/home/donations.html
Website: https://chicago4all.org/
Paula Gean (Leading Chicago4All)
214-727-1908, andreagean@gmail.com
Concord Missionary Baptist Church continues to collect winter clothing. Click Here.
Free Food in Love Fridges
One easy source of free food are the Love Fridges placed around the city. There are at least 2 in Hyde Park. They are regularly stocked with a wide variety of foods. There is a Love Fridge at 5500 S Woodlawn Ave and another at Rodfei Zedek at 5200 S Hyde Park Blvd, which is very close to Trader Joes. Love Fridge Locator / Food Pantry Locator
Free Store Ellis Avenue Baptist Church in Kenwood, 5001 S. Ellis Ave. 10-12 on Thursdays. A Hyde Park Herald article about this free store can be read Here. Enter at the front of the church. On Tuesdays volunteers sort and replace clothing. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Julie Vassilatos at 773 715-5883 (phone or text)
Currently we are accepting the following donations:
- Seasonally appropriate clothing for women, men and children including sweat shirts, sweat pants and pajamas.
- Shoes
- New underwear
- Linens, blankets, towels and laundry soap
- Lotion and other toiletries
- Kids, adults and pant/skirt hangers
These can be dropped off at the church on Tue and Thur between 10 am and 12 pm. If those hours don’t work you can also do a porch drop off at 1326 East Madison Park.
Free Store
The Free store at 3249 S Halsted has free clothes and toiletries. This is a great option if they can get a ride or take the bus.
Hours are:
Tuesday and Thursday 5:30-8 pm
Friday and Saturday 9 am- 12 pm
The other days it’s closed
Sign up to serve HERE
Furniture Donations: City's Furniture Bank.
Hyde Park Neighborhood Club has an info page on how to get involved on their web site. Click Here
Hyde Park Refugee Program is specifically looking for Spanish speaking volunteers to help with language; delivering meals and talking with the newcomers, helping with after-school tutoring and English Language Learning, to help with pick-up soccer games and to be friends. For more information email HPRP.
Hyde Park Kenwood Interfaith Council is seeking volunteers and donations for it’s food pantry and meal programs. Email for more information or Click Here.
Hyde Park Google Group Good Neighbors– is another place to get involved.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors is collecting supplies and food. You can view how to partner with them on their Facebook page
New Life Centers and the City Office of Emergency Management are coordinating to help people when they arrive in Chicago. They distribute kits of essentials and also collect, sort and distribute donations to people arriving and people setting up apartments. New Life Centers has a web page that shows how to partner with them. Click Here. There are also local projects to put together welcome packets, being coordinated on WhatsApp. Maureen can point you to the right WhatsApp.
One Warm Coat takes coat donations.
St Paul and the Redeemer’s Program to help our new neighbors.
Click Here
Churches Reaching out to our New Neighbors:
Concord Missionary Baptist ChurchRev. Kenneth Phelps
The church plans to open the Home Away From Home Center which will offer English as a second language classes, an internet café and a community kitchen for the migrants to “prepare their authentic dishes and serve them to themselves and/or to the community. They are taking donations to support their work at Wadsworth.
Zelle: cmbc6319@gmail.com, Enter “Migrant Ministry” in the memo field.
Light of the World Church
Pastor Robles
840 E 65th
jrobles@lldm.org
Parkway Gardens Christian Church
Pastor Morris
6600 S King Dr
(773) 956-8723
Father’s Heart Church
Yolanda Cruz, pastor
5824 W Diversey Ave
(773) 803-2091
First Presbyterian Church of Chicago
Pastor David Black
6400 S Kimbark Ave
(773) 363-0505
Local Leaders who can help us help Migrants
Alderman Lamont J. Robinson
(312) 744-2690
ward04@cityofchicago.org
Alderman Desmond C. Yancy
(773) 324-5555
ward05@cityofchicago.org
Alderman Jeanette Taylor
(773) 966-5336
State Senator Robert Peters
(217) 782-5338 and (773) 363-1996
(Senator Mattie Hunter
(312) 949-1908
The Community liaison to the City of Chicago is April Williams– Luster
april.williams-luster@cityofchicago.org.