Dear Friends,

As news of the recent changes to federal refugee and immigration policies by the current administration has spread, many of you have reached out to express your concern and support, not only for the refugee community we love, but for our organization. 

To keep everyone informed about how Friends of Refugees is responding to this evolving new reality, we’ve set up this page which we will continue to update with news and ways you can support our new American families in metro Atlanta.

What has happened

Historically, Friends of Refugees has been a post-resettlement agency, meaning that refugees typically access our services AFTER government-paid services through resettlement agencies have concluded. However, a series of White House executive orders and memos have abruptly suspended funding for these agencies, leaving newly resettled refugees, already in the US, without caseworkers to help them enroll their children in school, secure their first job, access health insurance, find permanent housing, and more.

We now find ourselves filling this massive gap in support.

Our response

• We have launched our Share the Love project, a volunteer driven effort to purchase, assemble and distribute care packages to address short-term food insecurity for New American families.
• We are temporarily shifting our fundraising efforts to focus on increasing funds for our whole-family support services to address the most immediate needs of the community at this time.
• We are hosting interactive workshops with partners across Atlanta to equip anyone interested in helping their New American neighbors with practical support—whether through Friends of Refugees or in general. To attend or host a workshop, email us: contactus@friendsofrefugees.com
• Above all, we continue to pray, listen, and move forward with purpose and focus, confident that this too shall pass.

As always, we rely on you to provide the prayers, volunteer effort, and financial support that keeps us going. Thank you!