The heat finally found Montana in July and, along with the rest of Missoula, refugee families headed for Splash Montana to cool off. Through generous donations to the IRC, kids got the opportunity to attend a variety of summer camps throughout the city.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Los Angeles is working alongside communities and partners to support Afghans living in Southern California and ensure a warm welcome for those families soon to arrive in the coming weeks and months. Here are four ways you can help.

On December 3, the International Rescue Committee in Silver Spring brought together over 50 clients, volunteers, and staff for a Thanksgiving meal and afternoon of festivities. Sampling traditional American fare such as roasted turkey and cranberry sauce alongside delicacies like homemade dolmas and Syrian pastries, refugee families and IRC volunteers and staff had an opportunity to share their cultural traditions with each other and express the things that they are thankful for in their lives.

The IRC in NYNJ will continue to support Afghan individuals and families, and newcomers from across the Globe in their long resettlement journey. The crisis in Afghanistan has shaped the methodology of resettlement case management at the IRC to bolster proactive and client-facing services and programming. With your support, the IRC in NYNY can defy the temporal pressures and limits that inflate the emotional and financial burden faced by newcomers.

Moving to a new country can be an overwhelming and isolating experience for anyone. Refugees who are forced to flee their homes due to conflict, violence and/or persecution face particularly acute cultural, emotional and financial challenges during the resettlement process. IRC's HOME Program pairs volunteer groups with refugee families to help ease their transition into life in the U.S. through mentorship and financial and material support.

Human trafficking continues to be prevalent across Florida as online platforms become powerful tools for luring children and other vulnerable populations. Learn more about online child exploitation and ways you can keep your family safe.

In 2023, the IRC in Los Angeles helped resettle 578 refugee families, and we anticipate this number to increase in the new year. We need your support to continue to give refugees the warm welcome and help they deserve. Learn more about the various ways you can get involved below.

The IRC in Salt Lake City offers several group volunteer opportunities ranging from group work days at our New Roots farm or garden sites, helping out at the Goat Ranch, cleaning up Spice Kitchen and more. Gather your colleagues, friends, family or church group and get involved!

Community Sponsorship offers an exciting opportunity for a group of community members to support resettlement efforts and to engage in deeply impactful work with one of our family cases. Following the higher volume of arrivals experienced recently and an increase in community attention toward assisting refugees, the IRC in Oakland is seeking volunteer groups who are interested in becoming Co-Sponsors.