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How to Help

Often after hearing or reading a refugee story, our readers ask us the question - "What Can I Do?"

While not everyone has the ability to volunteer near a conflict, there are opportunities for every person to contribute in a way that is meaningful and possible to them.

We have compiled a list of trusted partners and agencies that serve refugees, as well as other ways to get involved.

700 2020 Bandaids on Bullet Wounds Shelby Jo Huey Part 4b

WELCOME CORPS

Sponsor groups welcome refugee newcomers by securing and preparing initial housing, greeting refugee newcomers at the airport, enrolling children in school, and helping adults to find employment.

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LIFTING HANDS INTERNATIONAL

They provide aid to refugees on the ground, meeting the most vital and immediate needs. With minimal overhead and an army of volunteers, they fill gaps and rapidly adapt to conditions on the ground.

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AIRBNB.ORG

Airbnb offers free short term housing to refugees in crises. Donate to a stay or host a stay in your home or property.

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MILES FOR MIGRANTS

Donate airline miles, credit card points, or travel vouchers to help fund air transportation for refugees.

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OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

There are many ways to help that don’t involve a lot of time or a lot of money. More than anything refugees need people willing to reach out in friendship, a welcome, and a path to integrate into their new home. Here are some ideas to get you started:


  • Be a sincere friend

  • Reach out to people on the periphery

  • Take a stand against intolerance

  • Promote compassion and understanding

  • Make a visit

  • Get to know firsthand what is really needed; don’t assume

  • Volunteer to teach a language

  • Learn about the food, holidays and traditions of others

  • Share a meal

  • Celebrate a holiday together

  • Invite someone to join your family night

  • Teach a new skill

  • Learn a new skill

  • Make introductions

  • Ask questions

  • Exchange ideas and experiences

  • Highlight strengths in other cultures

  • Learn kids’ names

  • Learn a sport

  • Teach a sport

  • Offer employment to someone unexpected

  • Extend an invitation to a cultural event

  • Offer to babysit

  • Give a ride

  • Practice interviewing for a job

  • Help children study

  • Be a mentor

Their Story is Our Story aims to change the perception of refugees worldwide. We urge local citizens to create communities where newcomers feel supported and safe by contacting your elected officials to express support for refugee resettlement, to volunteer, or donate in-kind or funds.

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What would you do if you had to leave everything behind?

By the end of 2025, more than 117.8 million people worldwide had been forcibly displaced by war, persecution, or human rights abuses — and 45 million of them are children.

They arrive in refugee camps and countries seeking safety and carrying little: legal papers, if they're lucky. A backpack. A child's hand in theirs.

What they carry that we can't see is heavier: fractured families, homes they'll never return to, professions they loved, friends and relatives they may never see again.

In a climate where immigrant stories are often ignored or twisted, we believe stories are a form of justice. When someone shares what they survived, they reclaim their voice. When we amplify it through film, photography, and advocacy, the world listens. Hearts soften. Policy begins to shift.

Because when a lawmaker sees a person instead of a statistic, and a neighbor understands instead of fears, rebuilding becomes possible.

Your support helps us share these stories where they matter most.

— Kristen Smith Dayley, Executive Director, Their Story is Our Story

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