IRC

Chad and I have been volunteering with the International Rescue Committee for the last few months. The IRC supports newly arrived refugees with food, shelter, and basic necessities while also providing English courses as well as helping them develop skills to obtain a job here in the United States. We started volunteering at the resettlement shop every Saturday. An apartment complex has donated two units to the IRC one of which is set up like a thrift store where refugees are able to come in and gather as many items as they need to get settled. Everything that is taken is available at no cost to them. We help them find clothes, shoes, and household items that will help out their families. Most of the time they come with the clothes on their backs and a few other items. They are all so grateful and many times we have to encourage them to take more items than just one article of clothing. They come from horrible circumstances and arrive so humble and happy.

 

Two weekends ago they had a volunteer photographer come in to photograph the store and its volunteers to use for their website and brochure. Here are a few of the staged images she had us pose for.

The families came in soon after and I had a great time playing with the children while the parents shopped for clothes. These sweet boys were to much fun. They loved having their pictures takes and kept tapping my arm and asking for more pictures.

These girls enjoyed shopping around and playing with the dolls and stuffed animals.

The sweetest families always seem to walk through those doors and I am so thankful to be able to help them in such a small way. Volunteering with the IRC has been such a great blessing in our lives and we are always excited to go each Saturday. I wish I could slip a Book of Mormon in their bags as they leave, they are all such amazing people! They strengthen my testimony each week of the Savior's perfect and pure love. We are so blessed!