Ithaca Welcomes Refugees

Ithaca Welcomes Refugees walks alongside refugees and immigrants resettling in Tompkins County, New York. Whether finding a place to live, enrolling in English classes, or rebuilding community, we help newcomers navigate unfamiliar systems and environments, providing needed support.

Current Needs

Donate items for refugees who have arrived in our community

See what's on the list

Volunteer

Assist our refugee partners in their resettlement journeys

Join the volunteer team

Donate

Make a gift to support IWR's programs

Make a donation

News & Updates

Orchid Bee Candy Pop-up Fundraiser - 10/30

Stock your "Halloweekend" kitchen with local baked goods from @wideawakebakery and international sweets from @orchidbeecandy! Orchid Bee sells very special candies from around the world, seeking out interesting flavors, textures, and colors that highlight the extraordinary diversity and expansiveness of candy's cultures and histories. In addition to some fun Halloween treats, they will be selling candies that celebrate the global migrations of people and foods. This very special Orchid Bee Candy Halloween pop-up is donating ½ of their profits to @ithacawelcomesrefugees. IWR has been supporting recently arrived refugees and immigrants rebuilding their lives in Tompkins County since 2015.

Requesting Gently Worn Jewelry for Fall Fundraiser

All the jewelry sold at the sale is gently used and donated by people like you. EVERYONE has jewelry, old coins, school rings, broken jewelry or single earrings they don’t wear anymore or inherited and never used! In light of the new administration, Ithaca Welcomes Refugees is in need of our support more than ever! This is the 11th year we have organized jewelry sales to benefit local or national non-profit organizations.  The sale will be held November 21,2026 at the First Baptist Church. To organize, drop off or pickup of donated jewelry, please call Debbie at 607 279-7174 (Dpbenzer@twcny.rr.com) or Yvonne 607-592-2799. Thank you all in advance!!! 

Featured Story

A Poetry of Care: How Khadija is Healing and Creating

For Khadija, poetry is a means of transforming pain into beauty. Resettling in Ithaca after fleeing the Taliban, she tells us her story.

Read the full story

Read More on the IWR Blog

Lives Rebuilt: What it means to pursue your dreams as a refugee family

5 hours ago

IWR's core work is in recognizing that the way individuals and families become refugees is not the only story of their lives. We work closely with refugee-partners to co-determine what a successful resettlement would look and feel like for them individually, and for families as a collective. The following are stories from a family that has worked closely with IWR for four years as part of their resettlement journey. Identifying details and locations have been modified to protect this family's privacy. Since my arrival in Ithaca in the early 2020s with my family, I have been engaged with Cornell University as a Visiting Scholar. I have delivered…

Learn more

Key Sponsors

We are grateful to the following organizations currently supporting our programs through grants and sponsorships.

Stay Connected