News & Views

Volunteer Vignettes: Appointment Accompaniment Volunteer

Each accompaniment is a brand new experience: volunteers meet new individuals, families, challenges, and rewarding moments every time.

Appointment Accompaniment Volunteer Leslie Weiler discusses his experiences volunteering with HIAS PA.

For Leslie, the main role of appointment accompaniment to educate and advocate. Accompaniment is not just about taking a client to an appointment – it is also about fostering the client’s own independence by teaching them how to use public transit along the way, and acting as an advocate once at the appointment.

As part of his training experience, Leslie first shadowed a fellow appointment accompaniment volunteer before doing his first solo accompaniment. Even though each appointment is different, Leslie believes the shadowing experience provides good insight for new volunteers.

Yes, each appointment can certainly be different! A variety of new information may present itself, and mishaps may arise, from document names – and different names on documents! – to working with staff who have no prior experience working with our clients. This position takes patience, both with clients and medical staff.  

When asked what is most rewarding, Leslie said it was the connections. Meeting people, contributing to their process of becoming an established community member, and exploring the city are just a few of his favorite parts.

Become an Appointment Accompaniment Volunteer today! Check out our Volunteer page for more information.

TONIGHT (4/20) - Join us ONLINE at the 2023 Golden Door Awards!

Join us ONLINE at 6:45PM TONIGHT, Thursday, April 20th, for HIAS PA's 2023 Golden Door Awards: United for Immigrants!

Happy Passover from HIAS Pennsylvania!HIAS PA is closed in observance of the Jewish holiday of Passover

HIAS Pennsylvania will be closed in observance of the Jewish holiday of Passover from 1PM on Wednesday, April 5th through Friday, April 7th, and on Wednesday, April 12th and Thursday, April 13th.

Join us at the 2023 Golden Door Awards!United for Immigrants

The Golden Door Awards is HIAS Pennsylvania's annual fundraiser. Your generous support helps us serve low-income immigrants from all over the world as they build new lives in our community.

Building closed until further noticeHIAS PA remains open!

HIAS PA’s physical offices at 600 Chestnut Street are CLOSED until further notice due to a burst pipe in the building.

Our organization remains open, and HIAS PA staff continue to work remotely at this time.

Please call (215) 832-0900 with any questions.

Building closed until further noticeHIAS PA remains open!

HIAS PA’s physical offices at 600 Chestnut Street are CLOSED until further notice due to a burst pipe in the building.

Our organization remains open, and HIAS PA staff continue to work remotely at this time.

Please call (215) 832-0900 with any questions.

TONIGHT: Join us at the table!Join us for Thankful Together!

Thankful Together, formerly known as Refugee Thanksgiving, is happening TONIGHT at 6PM!

Register here to join us tonight: https://hiaspa1.wpengine.com/event/thankful-together-2021/

Celebrate our volunteers who make this all possible!Click here at 11:45AM to join our Annual Meeting!

Click here to join our virtual Annual Meeting!

The Annual Meeting starts at noon, but join us at 11:45AM for an informal chat before the event!

POSTPONED! Speed Advocacy: Afghanistan

Today's Speed Advocacy: Afghanistan Facebook Live event has been postponed due to a worldwide Facebook outage. We will update you as soon as possible about rescheduling the event.