INITIATIVE: Volunteers to Help Set Up Homes For Incoming Refugee Families

WHO: Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI) in collaboration with volunteers from First Church Congregational are looking for volunteers to help set up homes for incoming refugee families.

CURRENT NEEDS: Each week volunteers work together in 3hr shifts to help ensure that incoming families have a clean and welcoming space to call home. Volunteers are needed to help with activities ranging from moving furniture, to cleaning, decorating, painting, running errands and more. In addition to on site help, CIRI is also seeking gently used household items, textiles, & furniture for donation.

HOW IT WORKS: Resettlement work is often unpredictable which can make it difficult to organize & work into your life. Luckily, Fairfield resident Nikki Kenney sends out a weekly SignUpGenius link to organize volunteers. When a family is scheduled to arrive and an apartment lease is secured, CIRI gets to work procuring items for the home and lining up volunteers.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED: To be added to the volunteer email list, to donate household items, or to simply learn more, reach out to Nikki or CIRI directly: Deo Byakisaka: DByakisaka@cirict.org Nikki Kenney: treschukenney@gmail.com