06/05/2026
Meet Eileen, one of the incredible volunteers behind so much of what we do. She kindly shared some words with us about why she continues to volunteer with our program and what welcoming new neighbors means to her.
Volunteers like Eileen are at the heart of our work, helping create connections, build belonging, and support newcomers as they navigate life in a new community. 🧡💙
"By the summer of 2023, my life had slowed considerably, and retirement was right around the corner. I knew, in my life’s next chapter, that I wished to give to my community, but in a different way than my work life had demanded. I was finished with boardrooms, meetings, e-mails, and report-writing. I was seeking a way to get involved in something more “hands on.”
That summer I discovered the New Neighbor Coalition and volunteered to help. I anticipated my participation would involve an occasional run to the grocery store with a newly arrived family and similar errands and activities. Indeed, my first “call” was to help a young family, newly arrived from Venezuela, learn to navigate the local laundromat. I arrived at their apartment with a container of Tide and a roll of quarters and off we went.
When I first learned (with the help of Google Translate), that the family had been in the U.S. for only three days, my heart went out to them. I couldn’t begin to imagine the fatigue, sense of loss, confusion in navigating this new home, and potential trauma. I felt overwhelmed for them. And, for their part, the young couple were so grateful for my help – all it took was a smile, a kindness to their toddler son – my part was easy. Soon afterwards, their parents and siblings also arrived in the U.S., and both families quickly adopted me into their ranks.
Now…almost three years later, we have been through a lot together: school enrollments, doctor and dentist appointments, field trips, the citizenship process, etc. And we have been lucky to celebrate so many events together as well: a wedding, the birth of a child, new jobs, and buying a first home! We have navigated difficulties and moments of joy, walking through them together. We have become family to each other and my heart is full as I see my family members flourish.
The New Neighbor Coalition has provided incredible support to me in helping, what has now become, “my” family; I know Momina, Luke, and others are a phone call away and always responsive. My experience allows me to give freely in ways I believe to be meaningful and to be part of something important. A perfect fit for me!"
