Ways You Can Assist Refugees
Refugees are people who travel to another country to escape the bad conditions of their own. They could be fleeing war, a brutal government, high crime, or a lack of resources. When refugees successfully make it into a new country, they will need assistance to get food, water, housing, medical care, jobs, etc.
Here are some of the ways you can assist refugees:
Volunteer
One way you can help assist refugees is by volunteering at a refugee center. They can always use some extra help and will be happy to have you there. You can help with paperwork, setting the refugees up with services, feeding them, etc.
Donate Money
One of the things that makes it difficult for refugees when they arrive in a new country is the lack of funding for the programs that help them. The government helps to fund these programs, but when there are a lot of refugees, it's not always enough. When you donate to refugee assistance programs, you help them pay for the services that refugees desperately need.
Donate Clothes and Other Items
It's great when you can donate money to help refugees, but it's just as helpful when you donate things like clothes, household items, etc. Most refugees enter the country with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. When you can provide them with a few outfits, toiletries, etc., it's very helpful to them.
Fundraisers
It's always beneficial to put as much money as possible into the hands of refugee programs, and one way to do that is by fundraising. You can host fundraisers, go door to door, etc. The more money you raise, the more people you'll be able to help.
Job Assistance
Most refugees want to find jobs so they can start building their lives back up again, but it can be hard for them to get work. If you have any way to help them find work, it will help them a lot.
Transportation Assistance
When refugees arrive in a new country, they usually won't have any way to get around. They might not have any of their documents that will allow them to get their license, or any money to buy a car or use paid transportation options. You can volunteer to drive some of them around, donate a vehicle, etc., and make a huge difference.
Housing Assistance
The most important thing that refugees need is a safe place to sleep. If you have ways to provide housing options for them, you'll help make their transition much easier.
For more info about help for refugees, contact a local organization.
I put in a lot of long hours at work, so I typically greatly enjoy spending my annual vacation time either lounging around the house on a "staycation" or taking a trip to a fun destination. One year when vacation time was approaching, a friend mentioned that they had just completed a humanitarian mission in a foreign country. They told me how rewarding the experience was and I immediately realized how I wanted to spend my vacation. I didn't realize that everyday people like me could join groups that travel to foreign countries to be helpful for just short periods of time, but was glad I found out. I am now eager to volunteer for a worthy cause during every vacation and am eager to share my experiences and tips and tricks for choosing the right humanitarian missions to join on my new blog!