Our Story

Welcome Home Jersey City was founded by local community members moved to help as the Syrian refugee crisis reached its peak and anti-immigrant rhetoric rose from some corners in the US. After learning that refugee families from Syria and elsewhere were being resettled in Jersey City, Alain Mentha, Kara Murphy and Laura McBride began volunteering to support the new arrivals.

An apartment setup for a newly arrived family soon led to a coat drive as winter approached. As children got enrolled in school and parents looked for work, it became clear that English tutors were needed. The team of volunteers quickly expanded, meeting the varied needs of new arrivals and Welcome Home Jersey City was born with the idea that neighbors help neighbors and, in time, neighbors become friends.

Today, our volunteer-led organization continues to provide educational, employment and material support to refugees and asylees in the Jersey City area. By partnering with various refugee resettlement agencies and other non-profits to extend their services, we leverage deep connections within the community to provide a fabric of support. What we offer shifts depending on the needs of the people we work with and can range from emergency assistance to regular programming. The organization finances its activities through grants from foundations, corporations and government agencies, supplemented with donations from individuals every year.