The Orange County Jewish Coalition for Refugees (OCJCR) mobilizes the Jewish community to volunteer and advocate on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers. We are a grassroots organization comprised of individual activists and advocates, synagogues, and Jewish communal organizations inspired by our people’s history to support refugees locally and worldwide. OCJCR is a signatory to the HIAS Welcome Campaign: a network of 400+ congregations and organizations across the United States who are responding to the largest refugee crisis in human history.

We do this by concentrating our efforts on four key areas:

1. Raising awareness: We hold educational programs highlighting the global refugee crisis, updates on immigration policies and build connections between the Orange County refugee and Jewish communities.

2. Tzedakah (Charity): We raise funds and collect supplies to help refugees and asylum seekers.

3. Direct service: OCJCR volunteers help resettle refugee and asylum seekers by providing wrap-around services working in support teams of 5-8 volunteers per family. We hold donation drives, collect and disburse items most needed by newly arriving refugee families and recently released asylum seekers. 

4. Advocacy: OCJCR promotes pro-immigration policies, activates and educates volunteers to raise their voices on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers, and meets with legislators on an ongoing basis.