Supporting your community and here and at home

Supporting Your Community Here and at Home: How Immigrants Can Help

People who have emigrated to the United States often wish to support family and community back home, while adapting to their new home at the same time. Having a sense of connection is a vital part of humanity. Immigrants leave the familiarity of their home country to establish a new life, and this courageous decision means building that sense of community from scratch. 

Often, connecting with a new church community such as Hartford United Methodist Church can help immigrants feel more grounded and find a sense of belonging. Church groups also participate in community support projects, as well as outreach programs to other countries to offer supplies and funds for humanitarian causes. Immigrants can then find a variety of ways to support people back home while settling into their new location.

When immigrants think about sending support to their home country, it may be challenging to know where to start. Financial gifts are a simple way to support family and community projects back home, but it may feel risky due to the many scams that abound. Fortunately, there are safe platforms for funds transfers that ensure your money arrives where you intend without any dubious activity. For example, Filipinos who have made their home in the United States can send money to relatives back home through reliable platforms like Remitily, and those funds will be guaranteed to arrive safely and quickly. Fees for sending money home are usually minimal, and may even be free in many instances. 

Immigrants who wish to support special projects in their home country can also arrange for goods to be delivered. Many items can be purchased with American dollars that would be unaffordable with currency back home. Immigrants can take advantage of the exchange rate, and provide your loved ones back home with what they need by sending balikbayan boxes. 

As immigrants settle into their new homes, establishing a connection to local causes can help create a bond with the community. Whether it is through offering financial donations, volunteering for local events, or providing skills and services to projects in need, there are dozens of ways to get involved. For instance, helping with causes for seniors is a worthy investment of time and money. 

If you’d like to help out seniors in your home country, for instance, consider sending funds to assist with the purchase of food and supplies. You might also consider starting a penpal friendship across the miles, sharing photos, information, and even treats from your new region. 

Immigrants have so many great stories to share. Being new to a country offers the unique opportunity to help your community learn more about your culture. While it may not seem like a way to offer support, providing educational insight to your new community is priceless — it fosters intercultural understanding, which opens doors for people of all races and ages. 

Consider connecting with your local church, senior center, or educational facility to offer a presentation about your country. Often facilities welcome culturally enriching activities and presentations — they may invite you to teach a cooking class of your cultural cuisine or share music from your country of origin. 

Regardless of how you opt to support the community back home and in your new location, it is important to stay connected while building new relationships. Knowing you are making a difference will help you experience a sense of purpose and belonging. Make sure to explore the Hartford United Methodist Church website for more ways to get involved in the community today.