Announcement
By: Ryan Coster, logistics coordinator
Every year, the IRC in Baltimore helps hundreds of newly arrived refugees to start new lives in the metropolitan area. Having fled war, conflict or persecution in their country of origin, the majority of IRC clients arrive with little more than their luggage and the desire to rebuild their lives. Although IRC ensures a client’s first apartment is supplied with the essentials, clients don’t often see that extra supplies and final touches are from local residents who want to ensure newly arrived refugee families feel safe and welcomed to Baltimore. The following interview between the IRC and Peggy—a longtime volunteer with IRC’s Baltimore’s Welcome Home Project—offers a glimpse into the thought and dedication that goes on behind the scenes.
Peggy stands before her beautiful resettlement shed, ready to be filled to the rafters with donations for newly arrived refugee families.
Photo: Steve Shearer
IRC: Why/how did you become an IRC housing volunteer?
Peggy: I was upset to see the distress of refugees around the world and was planning a trip to Lesbos to help refugees there, but NATO put a stop to all boats coming to Greece and the organization I was working with cancelled our trip. Soon after, I attended a conference at the University of Maryland Law School – Connect for Immigrants. I learned about different volunteer opportunities and saw an IRC in Baltimore brochure describing ways to help set-up housing for recent immigrants. It sounded like what I wanted to do.
IRC: Can you describe your experience as an IRC volunteer during the pandemic? How has this new reality changed your experience?
Peggy: Pre-COVID we furnished as many as four houses per week and there was a lot of comradery with the other housing set-up volunteers. Then COVID hit. Like most Marylanders, I was anxious about leaving my house or socializing with others and within days, the IRC office had closed and volunteer activities were shut down. Of course, none of us expected the shut-down to last so long.
IRC: Tell us about your “resettlement shed” project.
Peggy: I soon realized that besides the list of “necessary supplies” that IRC purchases (such as shower curtains and dish soap) there were a number of things a new home really ought to have: pot holders, pans for cooking in the oven or night lights for children. So I started purchasing those items or finding them for free on Next Door and Craigslist. When I inquired about an item, the fact that it was to be donated to a refugee household often prompted the person to offer many other supplies or pieces of furniture. In a difficult year, it’s been reassuring to see so many good people in the world!
Well, it didn't take long for an extra bedroom in my house to fill up with donations. And then my husband lost his parking space in our garage! So we bought a shed and filled it to the rafters with donations! Since we have distributed most of the supplies, my husband is pleased to get his parking space back. He is retired now and can help me to set up apartments. We both wear masks and come from the same household so it feels very comfortable and safe.
IRC: What have you learned about the resettlement process during your time with the IRC?
Peggy: I have learned about the long waiting period for refugees to get here and the intense vetting process they undergo before they are welcomed to the U.S. The Baltimore International Rescue Committee does an awesome job of supporting the refugees before and after they arrive--obtaining housing, jobs, education, language lessons, healthcare and more.
IRC: What advice or encouragement would you give to the wider community about getting involved as an IRC volunteer?
Peggy: Volunteering with the housing setup team for IRC has added such a meaningful component to my life. Whenever I'm telling friends and family about my volunteer work, I just go on and on because I love what I'm doing. It often leads to more donations—one friend has even donated multiple sofas and other furniture.
I usually try to find out the ages of incoming refugees' family members to bring appropriate toys and books. I've always been into tablecloths and collected way too many of them, so I decided to put a tablecloth and a vase of flowers one every kitchen table.
Although I have depleted my own supply of tablecloths, I've received enough donated ones to keep up the practice. It gives me so much joy to stop at the door as we finish, to look back at the toys, furniture, and flowers on the table, and to imagine the new family walking in, glad to be here, safe and comfortable.
If you would like to volunteer with the Welcome Home project, please visit our website.