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For Deb Martin, refugee volunteer work and advocacy for World Relief Wisconsin flow directly from her upbringing and her family’s deep-rooted faith.
“Growing up, my dad was a teacher and my mom was a nurse. We always went to church and believed in caring about other people and helping …it might be a neighbor or someone across the world,” she said.
Deb’s family moved often, expanding her perspectives. “I’ve been all over the United States, so I think I see the world a little differently.” she explained.
Add to that Deb’s curiosity about a wide range of topics and her next-level organizational skills, exemplified by her professional career as an industrial engineer.
In high school, Deb jumped into everything — Student Council, Future Nurses, anything that piqued her interest. When vandals egged the football coach’s house, she didn’t wait for someone else to step up. She organized her classmates to clean it up.
“I have been organizing people my whole life,” she said.
Discover how you can walk alongside newcomers in your community.
Connecting To Community
Deb brings energy and intentionality to her volunteer work. Whether she’s setting up apartments, shopping for culturally appropriate groceries or helping families new to the U.S. learn how to get around their new communities, Deb meets each task with curiosity and care.
She sees volunteering as an opportunity for human connection. And she learns as much as she gives. “I realized there’s a lot of food I didn’t know about,” she laughed. “The first time I did the grocery shopping, I had to go to three different stores in town to find the right items.”
Each small interaction has opened her eyes to the everyday challenges newcomers face — things most Americans might not think twice about.
Deb’s story is one of hundreds across the country. Volunteers like her are essential. Last year, World Relief recruited nearly 27,000 volunteers in the U.S. — including nearly 180 in Wisconsin — contributing thousands of hours to help refugee and immigrant families rebuild their lives.
“Deb is such a blessing to have on our team of volunteers! She is so passionate about caring for others in the community and her energy spreads to those she interacts with,” said Kalina Davis, Wisconsin’s church and community engagement manager.
“We are incredibly grateful to have a whole village of dedicated and compassionate volunteers who commit to building relationships with our newcomer neighbors. These mutually transformative relationships create opportunities for us all to learn and grow together.”
Listening to God’s Nudges
Over time, Deb has uncovered hidden barriers newcomers face. One day, while supporting a newly arrived family through her church’s Good Neighbor Team, she realized they had not been managing the growing pile of unopened mail in their home. With limited English and little cultural context, they had missed critical school notices.
Prompted by what she describes as a nudge from God, she asked to see the mail. As they spread letters across the dining room table, a World Relief staff member — someone Deb had never met before — happened to arrive. Together, they sorted through the documents.
Deb said the timing was no coincidence. It was just one of many moments where she saw God show up when people respond to needs with compassion and presence.
These everyday acts of awareness and advocacy have become a hallmark of her refugee volunteer work. From beeping smoke detectors to air conditioners that need to be installed, Deb notices what needs to be done.
“These are smart, resilient people,” she said. “They’ve survived so much to get here. I just want to make the transition a little easier.”
Organizing for Impact
Deb’s support for refugee families is often practical and systems-minded. She brings efficiency and problem-solving into her volunteer life.
Beyond logistics, Deb lends her voice to issues of justice and policy. She’s spoken at city council and school board meetings, especially around housing access and equity for immigrant and refugee families. Through advocacy organizations, she’s worked for years to address hunger, transportation and structural barriers in her community.
Her faith remains central.
Micah 6:8 — “Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God.” — serves as her daily compass.
A verse given to her in school still shapes how she sees what’s possible: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
“I can’t do everything,” Deb said. “But I can do a lot more than I ever thought I could.”
Want To Follow Deb’s Lead?
World Relief Wisconsin offers many ways to get involved — from helping with shopping and transportation to serving as a friendship partner. Whether you give your time, your resources or your voice, your role matters. Learn how to become a volunteer.
Not Able To Serve Right Now?
You can still walk alongside families rebuilding their lives by joining The Path — our community of monthly givers committed to long-term transformation.