UPDATED numbers as of June 16 at 12:00 p.m.
United Way Receives over 900 Volunteer Applications in Support of City Efforts to Assist Asylum Seekers
(Portland, ME – June 15, 2019): United Way of Greater Portland announced that since the launch of its volunteer website on Friday, June 14, it has received over 900 volunteer applications to support those seeking asylum in Portland.
“The outpouring of support from the community is remarkable,” said Liz Cotter Schlax, President & CEO, United Way of Greater Portland. “We cannot thank people enough for raising their hands and expressing an interest in volunteering to help our new neighbors.”
Given the overwhelming support, it will take time to process the submissions. UWGP will triage and prioritize volunteers based on the city’s highest needs, for example, the need for Portuguese and Lingala interpreters. UWGP and the city appreciate all of the offers of support and ask for the public’s patience as they screen and process each application.
UWGP will notify volunteers once they have cleared the screening process. The City of Portland will contact volunteers as needed and asks that people not go to the Expo unless they are notified and given a volunteer assignment.
For more ways to help, please view this blog post and stay tuned to UWGP’s social media channels and the City of Portland website.
About United Way of Greater Portland: For 90 years, United Way of Greater Portland (UWGP)’s mission has been to improve people’s lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community. Today, UWGP unites individuals and organizations around our community’s shared vision, Thrive2027, three 10-year goals to improve education, financial stability, and health for every person in Greater Portland. With community partners, UWGP builds on strategies that are known to achieve the best results and rigorously evaluates progress toward those goals. Everyone has a role to play in building a thriving community, and UWGP actively seeks to engage donors, advocates, and volunteers to create measurable, long-lasting community change.
