Welcome Centers for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provide immigrants to the United States with individual support and connection to resources. Volunteers at the centers encourage self-reliance by helping individuals develop a plan tailored to their needs and goals. They answer questions, determine needs, and connect immigrants to other resources within the community.
Lori Curriden, a volunteer for the Welcome Center in Las Vegas, said that many of the immigrants they help are just looking for an opportunity to work legally and support their families.
“They just want to be able to legalize their status so that they can get a job, pay their taxes, build their family nest egg, and do exactly what our ancestors did a few generations removed,” Curriden said.
She reminded readers that unless we are Native American, our ancestors were also immigrants. She said she is grateful that her ancestors had the courage to come to the U.S. and start a new life and that is exactly what these immigrants are trying to do now.
There is a Welcome Center located in Ammon working out of the Deseret Industries building on 17th St. It operates through community volunteers and they welcome any new volunteers, specifically students from BYU-Idaho. ?
The office is located at 2887 East 17th St. in Ammon and is open from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesdays. For more information email IFWelcomeCenter@gmail.com or call 208-991-1489.