Volunteer with refugees at IRC in Iowa!

Our greatest needs are for volunteers to drive clients to their medical appointments, bring them on grocery store trips, assist with airport pickups (people and luggage, then getting to hotels), and for assistance with housing set-ups (moving furniture, making beds, setting up living spaces). 

Additionally, we are always looking for partners to host donation drives! Read more here about what we are looking for and if you're interested in hosting a drive or event!  https://www.rescue.org/announcement/donations-needed

Please visit the International Rescue Committee website to read about and apply via our portal for our available volunteer & internship opportunities.

https://www.rescue.org/volunteer-opportunities/des-moines-ia

Don't see anything you're interested in but want to get involved? Please email Iowa@rescue.org for more information!

More about International Rescue Committee in Iowa!

The International Rescue Committee provides opportunities for refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, survivors of torture, and other immigrants to thrive in America. Each year, thousands of people, forced to flee violence and persecution, are welcomed by the people of the United States into the safety and freedom of America. These individuals have survived against incredible odds. The IRC works with government bodies, civil society actors, and local volunteers to help them translate their past experiences into assets that are valuable to their new communities. In Des Moines and other offices across the country, the IRC helps them to rebuild their lives.

Our programs in Iowa:

Reception & Placement: Meeting critical needs in the early months after arriving in the United States.  IRC staff and community partners ensure newly arrived refugees are greeted at the airport; have a furnished home; receive time-limited rental assistance; have access to nutritious food, healthcare and education; and are given appropriate social services referrals. 

Employment Services: Early self-sufficiency through employment is the foundation of the US Refugee Program.  IRC staff and volunteers provide job readiness training, vocational counseling, resume preparation, job search and placement services, and financial assistance for basic needs with the goal of helping refugees find their first job in America. 

Intensive Case Management: Some refugees face barriers that make rapid employment difficult.  Others face cultural barriers that require additional training and orientation support to learn to navigate American systems independently.  Still others face crisis after an initial period of stability

Financial Coaching: Financial Coaching at IRC offers new Americans and other vulnerable populations an opportunity to build their financial knowledge, skills, and assets. Through a combination of one-on-one coaching and financial education classes, IRC delivers innovative, effective programs by combining evidence-based strategies with an unparalleled ability to deliver culturally and linguistically accessible programs. As a result of these programs, people are able to build their family income and assets, contributing to the economic vibrancy of communities across America.