Learn More and Get Involved with Refugee Services

We host our Holiday Giving donation drive every year to provide gifts and essentials to community members in need. You can support this event by adopting a family’s wish list and donating items.

Volunteering and becoming a family mentor is a rewarding and valuable experience that helps arrivals transition to our community and culture. After the 90 day resettlement period ends, some refugee families still may need more cultural orientation. Family mentors help refugees with aspects of our culture they still may need help with, whether it’s finding their way around Lansing, or learning how to shop in a grocery store. Please consider volunteering to help refugees feel welcome in our city.

CCIEC provides every new family with vouchers that can be used to obtain a bicycle from Share-a-bike. To receive the bike, they must be at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing (5509 S Pennsylvania Ave, Lansing, MI 48911) on Saturday mornings. Your organization can have volunteers partner with CCIEC (clearance process required) to transport new arrivals to Share-a-bike to receive bikes. You can also volunteer or donate bike parts to Share-a-bike.

To be a bicycle support volunteer, contact Mike Egan at [email protected].

Many refugee parents start working within a few months of arrival, and many children do not have safe educational/recreational places to go after school. Organizations can provide after school programs for children to allow parents to continue working. These programs could provide tutoring for children or events that would help improve their English skills and have them spend time others their own age.

Many new arrivals need help getting their license and first vehicle. Organizations can provide classes to help pass the written test and set up a basic road test and practice area in their parking lot. It would also be helpful to show refugees reputable used vehicle lots and help them with the paperwork. Once a driving ministry has been set up at your organization, CCIEC will refer refugees with a desire and aptitude for driving.

CCIEC provides new families with furniture in each home through donations from the community. Organizations can ‘adopt a room’ in the family’s home and collect furniture that CCIEC will deliver it to the families.

Moving can be stressful, and sometimes new arrivals forget to take time to have fun. Organizations can create recreational or sporting activities to help new arrivals reduce their stress. These events also help new families meet new people within the community, allowing them to practice their English skills and helping them learn ways to enjoy their community.

Volunteers can organize field days or events to help refugees feel more welcome in their new home, learn new skills, and learn more about life in Michigan. These could be hosted by churches, schools, individuals, families or whomever as a way to get involved. Field days could be set up as a summer fun camp, spa night, a soccer tournament, or an educational outing to a museum.

Only new or gently used clothing is accepted by Refugee Services, and coats for all sizes and genders are the most needed item. Other seasonal clothing items can be donated to the Clothing Closet at our Cristo Rey Campus.