The Ashrei Foundation is dedicated to supporting immigrants and refugees in the St. Louis region, recognizing their vital contributions to our community's cultural and economic fabric. We actively collaborate with local organizations to provide essential resources, advocate for immigrant rights, and foster a welcoming environment. Our efforts include participating in coalitions like the Immigrant Service Provider Network (ISPN), offering guidance on legal processes, and promoting policies that protect immigrant families. Through interfaith partnerships and community engagement, we strive to ensure that newcomers not only find safety but thrive in their new home. As Rabbi Susan Talve, our founder, states, "We will work to make it easier, not harder, to become citizens so no one will have to live in fear."

Immigrant Family Emergency Response (IFER) Fund

The Immigrant Family Emergency Response (IFER) Fund, a pooled fund created collaboratively by local foundations and nonprofit organizations, was opened in 2020 to address the financial repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of funding available for immigrant families in the St. Louis region. The Fund has since evolved to address the financial impact of increased immigration enforcement on families living in our community. The IFER Fund helps families meet basic needs during a time of fear and uncertainty.

The IFER Fund is an initiative of the Immigrant Service Providers Network (ISPN), a network of more than 40 agencies, organizations, and individuals who are direct service providers and community advocates for immigrant communities in St. Louis; Ashrei is now a member of the ISPN. The ISPN increases collaboration by convening organizations and community members to educate and facilitate responsive collective impact in the St. Louis region. For more information about ISPN, visit https://www.ispnstl.org/

Ashrei’s Executive Director, Sara Ruiz, was part of the founding team for this effort and is honored to lead Ashrei to support the IFER Fund in its latest iteration. Ashrei will support the Fund by training and coordinating volunteers to deliver cash to funded applicants, in addition to serving on the Steering Committee that designs and manages this effort. YouthBridge Community Foundation of Greater St. Louis serves as the fund manager, supported by an Advisory Board of trusted community partners.

The 2020 Fund distributed $372,000 to 731 immigrant families to help with basic needs like housing, food security, childcare, and alleviating debt. The Fund will re-open for applications in March 2025, and has a goal of serving twice as many families.

To donate to the fund, visit Immigrant Family Emergency Response - YouthBridge Community Foundation of Greater St. Louis. All donations to the IFER Fund go directly to applicants. None of the donations fund operating costs nor compensate the ISPN, Ashrei Foundation, or their volunteers for this initiative. 

Please visit the ISPN’s website for a list of frequently asked questions and to sign up for updates about the IFER Fund. 

If you are a community member interested in volunteering, please visit www.ashreifoundation.org/events/virtualvolunteertraining

St. Louis Rapid Response Coalition

The Ashrei Foundation is proud to be part of the St. Louis Rapid Response Coalition.

This team is committed to providing a coordinated community response to the presence of immigration enforcement activity in our area.

The Coalition is made up of over a dozen community organizations and individuals that provide legal and other services to immigrant communities in the region. The primary goal is to provide a quick response in the event of immigration enforcement activity in our region.

The members of the Rapid Response Coalition have worked hard to build swift capacity to meet community needs.

Currently, Coalition members have trained community volunteers to operate a rapid response hotline and coordinate immigration enforcement activity verification. Volunteer immigration attorneys are available through the hotline to provide legal guidance to individuals who are victims of these enforcement activities.

We also facilitate services from member and area agencies.

To learn more about this program and the Hotline, visit https://www.ashreifoundation.org/rapid-response

How to act

Join us to show your solidarity with our immigrant neighbors! We will offer virtual trainings for IFER Fund and Hotline Operators on Tuesday, April 15th, 6:00-8:00 pm. Learn more and register here.

Refugee Resettlement Project

With guidance from the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), the women-led all-volunteer team works to welcome refugee families and supports them building a new life in St. Louis. Learn about and support this project on our Refugee Resettlement Project Page.