Maine Immigrant & Refugee Services seeks to unite immigrants and refugees with their new communities in Maine. They provide skills, support, and opportunities that can lead to success in their new paths. They also seek to educate and empower the individuals involved. MEIRS is in need of volunteers based in the Lewiston and Portland areas, or via Zoom.

• Food Donations and Drivers to distribute food to people without access to transportation @ 256 Bartlett St.

• Zoom and in person tutoring for adults and children for ESL and Citizenship.

  • For children, helping them with school assignments and homework, ESL in person and Zoom. (between 5 – 30 students that come to the MEIRS office to zoom into their classrooms and get help with homework)

To volunteer, visit https://meirs.org/volunteer-page/ or reach out directly to Rilway Osman, rilwan@miers.org

To donate funds, visit: https://meirs.org/support-us/#donation.

The Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project is Maine's only state-wide immigration legal services organization. ILAP gives immigrants and their families direct legal services, community education and systemic advocacy.

Even with the pandemic, there are still volunteering opportunities that can take place from the comfort of your home. Even if you are not a lawyer, your help is still needed! If you have a high degree of fluency in a foreign language, your services could be used as an interpreter or translator.

There are also volunteer opportunities for those interested in event designing and organizing (dependent on how COVID progresses), communications, social media, and graphic design.

Visit the following to see more details/requirements of how to get involved: https://ilapmaine.org/volunteer.

If you feel you cannot give your services by volunteering, there are opportunities to donate funds. Visit the following for more information: https://ilapmaine.org/donate.

The Equality Community Center is a meeting space for programs making a difference in the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals. It currently houses EqualityMaine, GLSEN, MaineTransNet, PFLAG, Pride Portland!, and SAGE Maine, a program of EqualityMaine. The Center and its tenant organizations offer advocacy and support through legislative and educational initiatives, peer support groups, and community partnerships.

For information about volunteer opportunities at the ECC, please contact Kirsten at info@equalitycentermaine.com.

To donate funds that will support the ECC and assist in creating a full spectrum community center inclusive of affordable rental housing, visit here: https://www.equalitycentermaine.com/donate.