News from Abilene, TX

During the holiday season, the IRC gives you the opportunity to share the American spirit of giving with refugee families through the IRC in Abilene's Home for the Holidays program. By participating, you make a refugee’s first holiday in the U.S. one they will always remember.

There are many ways community groups can help welcome refugees resettling in their area. IRC expects to welcome thousands of Afghans this year, and has already resettled more clients since September than in the entire year before. Afghan Placement and Assistance Community Partners refer to an organization, community sponsor which has accepted in a written agreement with the resettlement agency responsibility to provide program services to certain refugees sponsored by the resettlement agency.

The IRC will help thousands of refugees in the coming year, most of whom fled violence in Afghanistan. Refugees have a proven attitude of perseverance and determination. Most have a strong desire to create healthy homes and prosperous futures. Refugees are culturally diverse and responsible community members who are eager to establish themselves in and contribute to American society. You can help your community by renting your property to these newcomers as they rebuild their lives.

As the holiday season begins, help our newly arrived refugees celebrate their first Thanksgiving.

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

The IRC in Abilene is committed to serving Afghan families and other refugee arrivals by ensuring they have access to safe housing, medical care, mental health services, case management, and other vital services as they rebuild their lives in our community. We need your generosity to support our newest neighbors. 

High rates of unemployment and Covid-19 infection among New American community members has contributed heavily to lack of stable access to adequate amounts of nutritious food . Refugees and immigrants have been some of the hardest hit populations in the country, disproportionately experiencing food and nutritional insecurity due to their high rates of employment in “gig economy” and other job sectors like food, hotel, and health which have been heavily impacted by the pandemic. Help new American communities combat hunger with a gift to IRC's food security programs in the U.S.

Update: February 24, 2021. The IRC responded to extreme winter weather conditions affecting Texas, causing blackouts and water shortages. Both IRC locations in Dallas and Abilene are still closed however staff are actively responding to client needs remotely.

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