Help to Welcome a Refugee Family

According to the latest statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are approximately 15.4 million refugees in the world. These are people who are forced to flee their homes and cannot return because they will be persecuted and possibly killed based on their religion, race, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. According to the Department of State, the United States has resettled at least 3 million refugees since 1975. An average of 2,000 refugees per year come to Illinois and many to the Chicago area.

“Run-for-Your-Life” Experience

Join us for a refugee simulation that was created by the UNHCR. Participants will role play scenarios faced by current refugees around the world. This interactive, sensory learning activity will be led by students from Mike McGuire’s Composition II class, which uses service learning as way of researching community and global issues. All are welcome, but the event is designed for more mature participants (age 14+). The students are also collecting needed items to set up an apartment in cooperation with Exodus World Service to welcome a refugee family to Chicago. We encourage you to bring one or more of the needed items. The list of needed items is below. For more information contact Mike McGuire.

Help a Family Feel at Home

You can help a displaced family by joining us in collecting needed items to help set up an apartment for them and welcome them to America. If you can donate an item or more from the list below, please sign up. Scroll down on the list, as there are many items. Also note that items do NOT need to be brand new. Gently used items are okay, too. Every donation makes a difference.