The International Rescue Committee in Garden City has received an overwhelming amount of support for the Family Mentor Program which began accepting applications in July. The program matches a member of the local community with our newest arrived refugee. Mentors provide support and friendship to newly arrived refugees in Garden City and work in collaboration with the IRC’s case managers to help with client’s adjustment. Some of the examples of things that mentors can do would be to show clients where the local parks are, how to fill out an application for a library card or they can just spend time together. Mentors often bridge the gap for refugees during the initial months in Garden City and provide a warm and encouraging support system for the newly arrived refugee.

The IRC in Garden City matched their first mentor on October 2nd and will continue to pair volunteers up with clients. We are excited to see the growth in our volunteers, clients, and community as a result of this program taking flight. If you’d like to learn more about the IRC in Garden City or if you would like to be a Family Mentor, contact [email protected]