New American Welcome Center

The New American Welcome Center (NAWC) helps immigrants fully integrate into American society and prepares receiving communities around the First Coast to be welcoming and inclusive.

Located at the duPont Family YMCA Youth Development Campus, we are actively engaging local institutions and mobilizing community resources to help make our community a place where newcomers and immigrants can thrive and flourish.

The Y has a long history of welcoming and engaging immigrants – from launching the nation’s first English as a Second Language class in 1856 to providing aid to thousands of new arrivals at Ellis and Angel Islands in the early 1900s.

We believed then as we do now, that offering our newest neighbors the support and care to thrive creates stronger, more connected communities for all.

What We Do

Services and resources offered by the NAWC for newcomers and immigrants include:

Support and referral services
Conversational English and citizenship classes
Oates Community Food Pantry (Open Wednesdays and Fridays , 8:30am – 11:30am)
Case Management for financial, medical and educational assistance
Community events

Welcoming Week
September 13-22, 2024

Annually, along with YMCAs across the U.S., the NAWC participates in Welcoming Week which celebrates and embraces new Americans through community activities and education. This week-long event strives to bring awareness and understanding of long-term residents’ and newcomer families.

Click here to view photos from the past event.

Donations

If you would like to help support our efforts at the New American Welcome Center, we are always looking for donations to help families in need. Below is a list of what we are currently accepting.

Bottled water
Canned foods
Household items and small applicances in good, working condition
Hygiene products
New/gently used clothing
Toys
Arts and crafts materials
Monetary donations always welcome!

Donate to the New American Welcome Center
Select “New American Welcome Center” from the designation dropdown menu.

Food Pantry Hours:

Open Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30am – 11:30am

We are located at:

7373 Old Kings Road
Jacksonville, FL 32217

NAWC Facebook Page