Minnesota has a long and proud tradition of helping refugees find safety and establish new lives in our community, dating back to World War II.
Today refugees come from many parts of the world, including Ukraine, Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, and Somalia. These refugees have escaped war, religious persecution and violence in their homes.
When refugees arrive in Minnesota, they come with very little–usually what they can fit in a suitcase and the clothes they are wearing. They need a place to live, a job to sustain their families and emotional support to recover from losses and traumatic experiences they have endured.
Global Refuge works to help refugees get established. They assist with securing housing, finding employment, enrolling in school and English classes, connecting to medical care and orienting them to their community. They work through local community programs like Camino a Casa, a program that provides youth in Guatemala with support for successful integration, and the Circle of Welcome through LSS which offers community support and co-sponsorship of refugee families.
Your donations to this ministry partner help fund these services for refugees. Learn more about Global Refuge and the Circle of Welcome at https://www.globalrefuge.org/get-involved/circleofwelcome/
A New Chapter
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) is now known as “Global Refuge.”
The decision to rebrand as Global Refuge is rooted in the growing worldwide need for compassion and support. With millions of people displaced by war, famine, climate change, persecution, and more, their mission of providing the “long welcome” has become more crucial than ever. The accompanying growth in the demand for our essential, expanded suite of services has sparked the need to identify themselves ever more clearly and create a bigger table of supporters.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” -Psalm 46
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