Be a Good Neighbor
Build flourishing communities with your refugee and immigrant neighbors
You see the headlines. You feel the heartbreak of displaced families. You and your church want to live out the gospel, but you aren’t sure where to begin or how to make an impact.
Today, refugees and other immigrants in the United States need people like you: local community members who will walk alongside them in the journey toward belonging, helping them navigate the challenges of resettlement as they seek to rebuild their lives in the U.S.
We believe God created the church and people like you to make a difference. Today, you can embody a Christ-like welcome and be a friend to refugees and immigrants by forming a Good Neighbor Team!
What is a Good Neighbor Team?
Good Neighbor Teams are small groups of people from a church or friend group who have said “yes” to walking alongside refugee and immigrant families for 6-12 months, providing tangible care, friendship and community connection.
After onboarding and training with World Relief, Good Neighbor Teams are equipped to step in and help with important tasks like providing welcome and cultural orientation, arranging housing, supporting access to medical and social services, and helping secure employment.
What is a Good Neighbor Team?
Good Neighbor Teams (GNTs) are small groups of people from a church or friend group who have said yes to walking alongside a newly arriving immigrant family for 6-12 months, providing tangible care, friendship and community connection.
After onboarding and training with World Relief, GNTs are equipped to step in and help with important tasks like conducting airport pick-ups, cultural orientation, arranging housing, supporting access to medical and social services and assisting newcomers as they seek employment.
“We can make a lot of assumptions about people who aren’t like us, but I think getting up close and sharing your life, sharing your own story with someone and allowing them to share theirs, it’s changed me.”
—Kelly Kastens, Good Neighbor Team Volunteer
How do I get Started?
- Contact a World Relief office near you, or submit an interest form here.
- Form a team of 6-12 people.
- Complete your applications, orientation and training.
- Get matched with a refugee or immigrant family or individual and provide practical community support for a 6-12 month commitment.
Our Office Locations
- California
- Modesto
- Sacramento
- Southern California
- Locations: Orange County San Diego
- Illinois
- Chicagoland
- Locations: Chicago Aurora DuPage
- Quad Cities
- IL Location: Rock Island County
- Iowa
- Quad Cities
- IA Location: Scott County
- Tennessee
- Memphis
- Texas
- Texas
- Locations: Austin Dallas Fort Worth
- Washington
- Spokane
- Locations: Spokane Spokane Valley
- Tri-Cities
- Western WA
- Locations: Kent Thurston Whatcom
- Wisconsin
- Wisconsin
- Locations: Chippewa Valley Fox Valley
Watch: The story of one Good Neighbor Team and how their lives were impacted
About World Relief
Since the 1970s, World Relief has been connecting refugees and other immigrants to churches and people like you, fostering a spirit of mutual transformation as together, we celebrate new beginnings and new friendships.
Through our U.S. offices, over 4,300 volunteers and 830 churches welcomed more 12,300 refugees and other vulnerable immigrants last year. When you form a Good Neighbor Team, you join a network of compassionate people who are building, welcoming, flourishing communities.
