We’re passionate about …
Welcoming all new neighbors with open arms and open minds.
Helping our new neighbors navigate life in the US.
Introducing newcomers to the resources that will help them achieve self-sufficiency.
Working as a team to support each other and newcomers. Join us, we offer several ways to get involved!
Please visit our Volunteering FAQ (linked below) to learn more about our volunteer tasks and what to expect as an IROC volunteer!
No one can do everything, but everyone can do something to help our newest neighbors resettle in their new country after long and hazardous journeys.
New Neighbor Program
Get connected directly with a newly arrived family so you can help them navigate life in the US and find the resources they need to thrive. Learn more about the program here.
-
To get started, click on the Volunteer Interest Form and select New Neighbor Program as an option. You will be contacted within a few days by the IROC Program Manager. After completion of the IROC Confidentiality & Release form and online background check, you will be connected to a household or family that needs help. We try to consider geographical proximity as well as preferences in family composition (single person, young kids, etc.) when making ”a match”.
-
It doesn't have to cost you a dime. Many of our volunteers will source donations from family, friends, and neighbors, without spending a single dollar of their own money. Utilizing resources like Craigslist, Nextdoor, BuyNothing, and Facebook marketplace, you'd be amazed at how many free, high-quality things are out there just waiting to be rehomed!
-
Absolutely not. The New Neighbor Program allows you to be as involved as you want to be. Some volunteers will stick to purely collecting and dropping off donations (clothing, household items, etc.). Others will build lifelong bonds with their families, inviting them over for dinner or showing them around the city with trips to the zoo or museums.
-
It's totally up to you. Once you feel your neighbor has a good handle on the initial things they may need to begin life in the U.S., it's up to you if you would like to continue the relationship. Some volunteers will continue to check on their families every few weeks to make sure they don't have any questions or concerns. Other volunteers will move on to another family and begin the process all over again.
-
No. Unfortunately, we do not have a physical space or office to collect, sort, and store donations. This is why we encourage volunteers to enroll in our New Neighbor Program, so they can take their donations directly to a family in need.
Additional Programs
-
Emergency Assistance Program
Newcomers often arrive having depleted all financial resources during many months or years spent waiting to be allowed to resettled in the US. They need food, clothes, hygiene products, and help with transportation.
IROC provides this critical support when other available resources are not easily accessible due to eligibility, location, and language barriers.
You can help welcome our new neighbors by making a purchase of highly requested items from IROC’s Amazon wishlist! All purchases will be delivered directly to families in need. -
Free Youth Camp
Throughout the warmer months, IROC hosts a free monthly camp for children living around in Prince George’s County. Our youth volunteers work together to support the mental and physical wellbeing of our youngest neighbors by giving them an opportunity to to learn and grow through play and mentorship. We strive to nurture connections and a welcoming community for all children.
If you are interested in volunteering for the camp, or if you would like more information, contact us here.
-
Mother-to-Mother Program
Being a new mom is tough. Being a new mom in a new country is even tougher! We want to ensure everyone has a has a chance for a strong start, so we’re supporting new and expecting moms with essential items and support.
IROC connects new and expectant mothers to a “mother-to-mother” volunteer who will supply all items necessary to welcome a new baby. If you would like to help a new mom, you can select this program using our volunteer interest form.
-
Project Turquoise Youth Committee
The Mission of the Project Turquoise Youth Committee is to raise awareness and empathy for refugees within the high school community in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The youth will organize and engage in events that support an environment of empathy, giving and service to humanity. if you would like more information about its activities, contact us here.
-
Economic Empowerment Programming
Becoming financially stable is one of the hardest but most important things a newcomer household must do. IROC is committed to helping refugees and other newcomers achieve this goal via direct job-search help and referrals.
Our volunteers help newcomers with each step of the resume writing and job search process, providing guidance, resources, contacts, and encouragement to empower them to restart their professional lives in the United States.
In addition, IROC partners with workforce development agencies to refer job-seekers, as well as with other nonprofits that specialize in helping newcomers reenter the workforce.
-
Scholarship Program
We have found that newcomers’ job searches are often hampered by two factors: a lack of English proficiency, and/or the difficulty of transferring professional credentials from other countries. Our scholarship program helps cover the cost of English and vocational courses for motivated newcomers, helping to break down barriers to dignified employment. Moving people away from “survival” jobs has a significant positive impact on both newcomer wellbeing and the local economy!
Access to English courses also helps newcomers to connect with their communities, engage more fully in their children’s education, and feel more confident navigating life in the United States. At IROC, we believe everyone deserves that kind of resettlement journey, and that the broader community benefits from it.
Parla Arte
Parla Arte is a project started by Rania Najih, an IROC volunteer. It offers refugees the opportunity to share their experiences through various artistic mediums, including painting, sewing and other handmade items. Parla Arte aims to empower individuals and foster cultural exchange and understanding. Eighty percent of the profits from sales will directly support the artist. Twenty percent goes towards supplies and transaction costs. You can visit the online store here.
For more information about our New Neighbor Program please download our program overview.
