Through Hello Neighbor, refugees and immigrants are supported through education and resources once they arrive in Pittsburgh. Volunteers at Hello Neighbor play a crucial role in providing support throughout all of their programs. Through their Smart Start program, the focuses is on providing refugee and immigrant families education and support throughout the birthing process.
Hello Neighbor volunteer, Angela Chang, cooks an Ethiopian spicy chicken dish called Doro Wat for an Ethiopian mother who recently had twins here in Pittsburgh. After preparing the meal, Chang delivers the meal to UPMC Magee -Womens Hospital where the mother is staying with her twins in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Prior to this meal, Chang has also volunteered to cook meals for families while also attending dinners that were prepared by refugee families that are involved with Hello Neighbor. Chang says “It feels really special when they make food for you, so it feels wonderful to be able to make meals for them.”
Chang has also helped to bring families from the airport to their new apartment which was selected by Hello Neighbor prior to the family arriving. Chang remembers one specific family from Afghanistan being overwhelmed and grateful which has stuck with her to this day. Chang says “I am put into this person’s life story forever. I come home and be like wow, what a great thing to be a part of.”
Another volunteer, Venitia Pimley, also helped prepare and deliver a meal to the same Ethiopian mother a week later at the NICU. Pimley has also volunteered to welcome families at the airport and help them settle into their new home.
Pimley is aware of the struggle that these families face when being forced to flee from their home country and to seek refuge. She mentioned that these families are exhausted when they arrive and they are often just looking for a connection. She wants to be able to use the time and amenities she has to help these families settle down and find a connection to Pittsburgh.
