About Us
World Relief Western New York empowers refugees and immigrants by addressing the root causes of poverty, vulnerability, and injustice. Through expert support, specialized services, and community connections, we help individuals build a foundation for lasting change and belonging.
MEET OUR TEAM!
Contact our office at wny@wr.org or call 585-563-7175
Global Reach
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world's greatest crises in partnership with the church. We envision thriving, welcoming communities where families flourish, and people experience restorative relationships with God, their neighbors, themselves, and all creation. World Relief’s work in the United States, specifically, focuses on helping refugees and other immigrants in vulnerable situations rebuild their lives in a new country.
Local Impact
At World Relief Western NY, we come alongside refugees and other immigrants in vulnerable situations as they rebuild their lives in the United States. Rochester, NY has a long history of involvement in the resettlement of refugees under the United States Refugee Admissions Program, with over 16,000 refugees coming to Western New York since 2002.
In 2018, three Rochester churches co-hosted the event "Loving the Stranger Among Us" and over 250 Christians from over 35 different local churches came together to consider how God could be asking us to respond to the ongoing global refugee crisis. Refuge Rochester was born as a direct result of that gathering, created as a way to respond to that question. Since then, we've focused on connecting Christians and churches with refugee families, and education and discipleship through events.
Beginning July 1, 2021, Refuge Rochester became World Relief Western NY, part of a national network of World Relief offices through which over 500,000 immigrants and refugees have been welcomed into this country over the past 40+ years. Since then, we have resettled and welcomed over 850 individuals into Western NY, providing the essential support they need to rebuild their lives and thrive in their new community.
Regardless of policy shifts, administrative changes, or varying government support, our commitment to providing vital services for newly arrived immigrants and refugees remains unwavering.
With your help, we can continue helping immigrants in vulnerable situations in the United States find hope and rebuild their lives, creating communities of love and welcome that we all feel proud to be a part of.
Here’s how we do it:
Provide vital services
We support refugees and immigrants by providing access to basic necessities and guiding them on their journey to belonging.
We offer case management, advocacy, and referrals to English language classes, immigration legal services, employment assistance, and more.
Build just and welcoming communities
We equip churches and community members with the information they need to educate, advocate and take action on behalf of our immigrant neighbors. And we work to change systems and resulting injustices that marginalize refugees and other immigrants in the U.S.
Bring people together
We connect churches and community members with immigrant families to foster transformative relationships, where both new and long-term community members flourish and find a sense of unity and belonging.