With the Help of Our Friends

At IRC Tucson, we often rely on the support of the community to continue our mission of providing refugees with opportunities to thrive in America. Donation drives serve as just one of the ways in which Tucsonans embrace the local refugee community.

The students at the University of Arizona continue to be one of our remarkable advocates. Over the years, the UA Pre-Health Honors Fraternity, Epsilon Delta, has collected an overwhelming amount of hygiene products and school supplies in honor of refugees. These donated items fulfill the basic needs refugees have when first arriving in our community, and enable us to utilize more resources for direct services.

The fraternity's 150 members give 4 hours of service each semester, totaling a minimum of 600 hours! "We know how much refugees rely on these donations and appreciate the extra help," says Philanthropy Chair, Drew Tyrell. The students set the goal of collecting 5 items per person at their bi-weekly meetings.

A few weeks after contacting the IRC to inquire about donation needs, the office distribution buckets were overflowing. "The fraternity just asked, 'What do you need?' and poof - it appeared! Refugees stop by the office in need of shampoo or soap; their children often need paper and pens for school. It's great to have these resources readily available," comments Brittany Schilling, Development Associate.

"I hope that our relationship with IRC continues into the future. We are always glad to help in any way we can," says Drew. In addition to supporting IRC Tucson, the fraternity also hosts social events, fundraisers, and a blood drive for United Health Services. With partners like Epsilon Delta, IRC Tucson can make great strides toward improving resources for refugees - Thank you for your support!