Current Needs

IWR depends on donations to provide refugees with important items when they arrive in our community, such as furniture or computers. Contact Programs Coordinator Leigh Bacher at leighb@ithacawelcomesrefugees.org if you are interested in making a donation.

Items for Family Moving – To Be Received by April 3, 2024

IWR is collecting donations in good to new condition (clean and with no major flaws, holes, stains, pet hair, etc.) for a refugee family preparing for a local move. Items will need to be dropped off by April 3, 2024, with drop off locations in Ithaca in the Belle Sherman and Cayuga Heights neighborhoods, in Lansing, and in Trumansburg. Review the list of needed items and sign up to donate. Donors will be contacted over email to coordinate logistics.

Refugee Crisis Fund

IWR has created a Refugee Crisis Fund to help assist refugees who have an extraordinary need due to emergency circumstances. Learn more and contribute to the Crisis Fund.

General Needs

We are currently seeking tablets and laptop computers to help families find employment and register for government programs, as well as for educational purposes. If you are able to donate any of these items, please contact Programs Coordinator Leigh Bacher at leighb@ithacawelcomesrefugees.org. Please inquire before purchasing new items. Many thanks!

Volunteers

IWR is seeking volunteers for the following positions. If you think that your background and experience would make you a good fit for one of the following roles, please indicate your interest by completing this form.

Donation Managers

IWR seeks two dedicated volunteers to work with the Programs Coordinator and other volunteers to collect and coordinate donations of household goods, communicate with donors, post/manage spreadsheets, and make decisions about what material goods can be accepted at that time. Commitment is ~1-3 hours a week and can primarily be done remotely.  Some driving to transport donations is needed.  For more information or an application, please contact Leigh Bacher, Programs Coordinator, leighb@ithacawelcomesrefugees.org.

Welcome Home Team

Welcome Home volunteers focus mostly on the pre-arrival period for newcomers to our area, helping to coordinate donations of furniture for a family’s apartment and other apartment setup activities, and helping with ongoing donation drives as needed, for items such as diapers or winter clothing. 

Response Team

IWR provides assistance to new families or individuals through Response Teams – groups of 2-4 volunteers who are focused on long-term support for families and tailor their support to each family’s specific needs. Response Teams provide a flexible range of services like helping with job searches, arranging for interpretation, accompanying newcomers to appointments, filling out forms, and school enrollment for children. 

Housing Committee 

Housing is one of the biggest obstacles to refugee resettlement in Ithaca. If you are a landlord, a realtor, or have some other expertise or interest in the local housing environment, please consider joining IWR’s Housing Committee. The committee will be working to cultivate local landlord relationships and helping families find apartments they can afford. 

Events Volunteers 

IWR is looking for events volunteers who can assist IWR’s Events Team with things like tabling at area festivals, helping promote events through social media, event set up and clean up (only 1-2 per year), pick up and distribution of auction items, and more. 

Employment

IWR is now hiring a half-time Development Director. To empower IWR to carry out our mission-driven work, the Development Director will obtain funds from existing sources, expand IWR’s funding from grants and private donors, and create external communications regarding activities and needs of IWR and the newcomers we serve to the community. For more information, please see the full job posting.