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Maybe you’ve heard about them on the news. Or you’ve read stories of people like Karungu, Nadiwa, and Mahasen. Perhaps you’ve even met them in your own community — refugees forced to flee their home countries due to war, persecution and violence.
However you got here, you feel compelled to respond. You want to find ways you can help refugees. And we want to help you do just that.
For over 45 years, we’ve been connecting people like you with opportunities to walk alongside refugees and displaced people around the world. With recent cuts to federal funding for U.S., your help is needed now more than ever. Here are seven ways you can help refugees today.
WAYS YOU CAN HELP REFUGEES
1. Pray for Refugees
As followers of Christ, we believe prayer is an essential part of our response to suffering and a powerful act of solidarity. Join us in praying for refugees and those forced to flee their homes around the world. Pray also for leaders as they make critical decisions that impact the lives of millions of people. And pray that the church, in the spirit of Matthew 25, would rise up and respond with love and generosity towards those in need.
To help you pray for refugees and other immigrants experiencing vulnerability, we’ve created a free prayer guide.
2. Give Monthly to Organizations Like World Relief Western Washington
Consistent, monthly giving is one of the most impactful ways to help refugees. At World Relief Western Washington, monthly donors — members of The Path — provide the steady support needed to respond during crises and walk alongside refugees in the U.S. and abroad long after the headlines fade. Your generosity helps families access housing, food, education, job training, legal services and more.
3. Raise Awareness of Important Refugee Issues
June is World Refugee Awareness Month — the perfect time to speak up, share stories and spotlight the real experiences of refugees around the world. Yet, our support for refugees shouldn’t stop here. Whether on social media, at your church or among family and friends, you can amplify refugee voices and build awareness that leads to action.
One easy way to share the latest stories and updates is by following us on social media. You can find us on: Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
4. Volunteer Your Time and Talents
In communities across Western Washington, we rely on volunteers to welcome and walk alongside refugees and other immigrants. Volunteers help their immigrant neighbors by tutoring them in English, providing transportation, assisting with job training and more. Perhaps most importantly, volunteers can become trusted friends as they invest in mutually transformative relationships.
Learn more about our volunteer opportunities.
5. Advocate for Compassionate Policies
At a time when support for refugee resettlement is at risk, the need for advocacy is urgent. And your voice really can make a difference. We also know contacting your representatives can feel intimidating, so we’ve created easy tools to help you speak up on important issues impacting refugees and other communities experiencing vulnerability around the world.
Check out our latest petitions and sign-on letters, including our call-to-action tool that makes it easy for you to call your decision-makers — one of the most effective ways to advocate!
6. Mobilize Your Local Church
On the pathway to belonging, local churches can play a crucial role in the lives of their refugee neighbors. We partner with faith communities by providing training, consultations and support as they discern how to best love and serve refugees and other immigrants.
Learn more about how you can mobilize your local church.
7. Stay Informed and Connected
For more ways to help refugees and others experiencing vulnerability around the world, join our mailing list! We’ll send updates on the latest opportunities and stories from our community right to your inbox.
Together, we can ensure refugee families receive the care and support they need in this critical time.
Kelly Hill is a Content Manager at World Relief. She previously served as Volunteer Services Manager at World Relief Triad in North Carolina. With a background in International and Intercultural Communication, she is passionate about the power of story to connect people of diverse experiences.