News from Missoula, MT

Before the Refugee Act of 1980 standardized refugee resettlement through the use of resettlement agencies, such as the International Rescue Committee, resettlement was largely conducted privately or through community groups. With the increasing numbers and enthusiasm of local community groups offering to partner to resettle refugees, IRC is committed to integrating community sponsorship programming at the local and national levels!

Missoula Gives is a 26-hour online celebration that connects generous Missoulians with the causes they care about. It is a day to celebrate all that Missoula are and the role nonprofits play in making our community great. Our goal this year is to raise $3,000. Donating to IRC Missoula will help us support refugees during their resettlement process. You can give online or donate in person at the IRC office with a check or cash.

One of the programs IRC Missoula offers is the Matching Grant Program – a case management program that offers critical support for work eligible adults in developing job skills and assistance in the job placement process. As an Employment Support Volunteer, you will support the Senior Employment Specialist and Employment team with various aspects of employment. Duties include but are not limited to assisting refugees with job training provided by employers, facilitating job readiness activities, assisting refugees with attending job interviews, and occasional administrative support such as filing, documentation, and helping clients with paperwork. As such, you will be expected to learn about the IRC (history, scope of work, values, etc.), our clients, and core services. All activities will be done in coordination with the office staff and under the supervision of the Senior Employment Specialist.

As a Refugee Support Volunteer you will be paired with an IRC Caseworker to help provide support to newly arrived refugee families. Volunteers will be assigned to one of the following specific roles: Transportation Ambassador, Grocery Shopping Assistant, Laundry Access Assistant, Child Watch Assistant, or Activities and Integration Assistant. As such, you will be expected to learn about the IRC (history, scope of work, values, etc.), our clients, and core services. All activities will be done in coordination with office staff and under the supervision of the Casework team.

In response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, The IRC offices in Europe quickly mobilized in neighboring Poland, where they are working with partners to assist arriving refugees.

The International Rescue Committee in Missoula currently has openings for Summer AmeriCorps Members to help in critical support roles both working with clients and behind the scenes.

Transportation Ambassadors assist IRC casework staff in showing refugee families how to get around town on the Mountain line! Newly arriving families do not have cars, and so assisting them in mastering the public transit is crucial for the freedom to get around and part of how we empower them to become self sufficient. Transportation Ambassadors will work closely with casework staff to schedule trainings with clients and helping them get to and from appointments and other key locations in Missoula.

The IRC in Missoula helps people fleeing violence and persecution rebuild their lives and gain control of their future. We continue to work alongside communities and partners to welcome and support Afghans and refugees from other crisis zones around the world.

As a resource development intern you will be responsible for assisting the Development Coordinator with various aspects of fundraising, event planning, volunteer recruitment and coordination, and handling in-kind donations. Tasks may include recording donations and responding to donors, answering volunteer inquiries, maintaining records of volunteers and their service hours, processing donations of goods and assisting with the in-kind inventory management. As such, you will be expected to learn about the IRC (history, scope of work, values, etc.), our clients, and core services. All activities will be done in coordination with office staff and under the supervision of the Development Coordinator.

Update! Watch the October 7th webinar recording on IRC's Afghan Emergency Response in the US