Welcoming New Iowans: What Can You Do?
Supporting Newcomers Now: How to Help
If you are wanting more information about policy changes impacting refugee and immigrant communities or looking for ways to get involved by either volunteering or with by donating, Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (IMMJ) offers many different ways to support our communities. They are a statewide membership-based advocacy and immigration legal service organization driven and led by immigrant and refugee voices and united with allies. Click here for a list of ways to volunteer or to complete their volunteer interest form, or click here to make a donation.
Supporting Refugee Resettlement Agencies in Iowa:
While funding for refugee resettlement has been ordered to stop by the Trump Administration, each of the refugee resettlement agencies throughout the state are working on ways to support the 500 newly arrived refugees with housing, food assistance, job placement navigation, enrolling in schools, and transportation. For those wanting to help, grocery/WalMart/Visa gift cards are especially helpful to help fulfill food and household goods needs. Below are links for direct contact for each of the 7 agencies throughout the state, including other ways they need volunteers and donations.
All 7 resettlement sites in Iowa are successful in welcoming New Iowans largely due to the support they receive from local communities. If you are looking for ways to help welcome refugees to our state here are the direct links to each agency:
International Rescue Committee (Des Moines, Iowa City)
Lutheran Services in Iowa (Des Moines/Sioux City)
Mary Treglia House (Sioux City)
United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (Des Moines)
World Relief (Davenport/Quad Cities)
Learn More:
The Refugee Alliance website hosts a variety of resources for both New Iowans as well as direct service providers to learn how to serve our New Iowan communities better. The “Resources” tab above hosts a Newcomer Resource Directory, information on COVID-19 recovery and resources, a community-based ELL class matrix, information on the Refugee Immigrant Guide program, and more. Each of our workgroup also offers a host of resources specific to each sector. We also welcome the public at all of our events! For anyone with additional questions on resources or how to connect, we are always happy to help.
Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa
RACI is a voluntary membership network of service providers, government agencies, religious groups, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions that work together to better serve the needs of the growing refugee population in central Iowa. We provide targeted assistance in the areas of health, housing and transportation, interpretation, education, legal, along with advocacy at federal, state, and local government level.