Last Monday, we (The International Rescue Committee’s Washington DC resettlement office) welcomed our most recent arrival – a Bhutanese family of seven. Jet-lagged, dehydrated, but enthusiastic, the family flew into Reagan National Airport and were welcomed by an IRC case manager. This particular Bhutanese family has been in a refugee camp for 17 years. They are part of a new wave of Bhutanese refugees who are welcomed by the U.S. Government and resettled by NGO’s like the IRC.

As a resettlement agency, IRC welcomes families, finds housing, provides a first meal, offers cash assistance, helps with enrollment in English classes, and assists in the search for employment. Currently, the DC office resettles refugees from Burma, Iraq, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and many other countries around the world.

Several ONE Campaign employees volunteered their personal time to host a drive for the Bhutanese family collecting furniture, food, clothing and household goods, so that the new home was ready for the family’s arrival. These employees’ involvement will not end here – they will help mentor the family as they begin their path towards independence and build their lives in Washington, DC.

If you are interested in volunteering with IRC, go here to to see if there’s a resettlement office in your area and here to learn how you or your organization can get involved.

-Kate Evans, Volunteer Coordinator for IRC’s Washington, DC Resettlement Office