The IRC helps people whose lives have been shattered by conflict and disaster, reaching those who need it most despite politics, hostilities or harsh climates.

A new refugee family was matched with a co-sponsor Group in Arvada, Colorado.

Sammiah Ebadi has been volunteering with the IRC in Denver office for 6 months. An immigrant herself, Sammiah has found meaning and pride in helping others who have resettled in the United States.

In September 2021, Suzy Stutzman of Golden Optimists reached out to the IRC in Denver, offering refurbished bicycles to refugees. Golden Optimists, a volunteer-run non-profit in Golden, Colorado, has been transforming donated bikes into sustainable transportation for those in need for over 35 years. During the pandemic, they pivoted to support incoming refugees, including many from Afghanistan. This partnership has provided over 100 bikes to IRC Denver clients, enhancing their mobility and integration into the community. The collaboration highlights the profound impact of community support and the ongoing need for volunteers to sustain these efforts.

When millions fled Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia after the fall of Saigon, the IRC was there to help them start anew in the U.S.

The goal of this brief report is to provide a succinct, “real-time” snapshot of the main economic challenges that families are facing, adaptations that IRC programs are making, and the lessons that are emerging.