The only Afghan grocery store in Georgia, Baseer’s Kabul Market has been an invaluable resource for the community as we welcome families who were recently evacuated from Afghanistan by the US. Since mid-October, the IRC in Atlanta has purchased more than 100 hot welcome meals from Kabul Market along with countless loaves of traditional Afghan bread!

Batoul Khoulani was selected by the Public Missoula Art Committee to create a design for one of Missoula's many traffic signal boxes. This initiative makes art accessible to community members and gave Batoul the opportunity to share her culture. Batoul created a design which combined iconic symbols of Montana's natural landscape with the Mandala, a symbol from her culture.

As a result of the emergency needs assessment, IRC in NJ received funding to distribute one-time prepaid gift cards to households, individuals, and couples in our community, meeting established criteria and on our Intake and Casework team’s caseload. This relief effort, while finite, will serve almost 300 individuals in our area over the next few months.  

Pride month is celebrated every June, in remembrance of the Stonewall Riots, a series of gay liberation protests that took place in New York City in 1969. This commemorative month recognizes the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) people have had locally, nationally, and internationally, while also illuminating some of the key issues persisting for this community, in order to prompt change and work towards safety and inclusion for everyone. 

The IRC in Phoenix is committed to supporting newly arrived refugees on their journey from harm to home. As part of that commitment, we provide refugees with the basics they will need to start rebuilding their lives here in the U.S. Join our efforts by gathering much-needed in-kind donations to assist newly arrived refugee families and individuals as they work to regain control of their future and positively integrate into our community.

More than one billion people volunteer globally for solidarity and humanity, for people and the planet. International Volunteer Day is an occasion to pay tribute to volunteers worldwide and recognize the value of volunteerism in advancing peace and development. It serves as an opportunity to applaud the selfless efforts of individuals who dedicate their time and skills to make positive changes in their communities and beyond. During International Volunteer Day, the IRC in Los Angeles wishes to recognize the outstanding efforts of several of our volunteers. These volunteers have demonstrated the selflessness, dedication, and perseverance that exemplify the heart of the IRC in Los Angeles and our mission. Please join us in congratulating them!

This month Haben, an Eritrean refugee who was resettled by the IRC to Missoula three years ago, tells us abut her experience. When she arrived she spoke only a handful of words in English, but now speaks well enough to be interviewed for this story without interpretation.

Angelica did not want to take her family and risk the violence and poverty she had fled in Mexico, nor did she wish to continue living in the shadows of being undocumented in the U.S. She thought the only other option would be to tear their family apart with one parent living on each side of the border.