Refugee group expands services to Iowa City
Nonprofit provides aid, resources for people in humanitarian crises
A global nonprofit with an office in Des Moines has now expanded its services to Iowa City.
The International Rescue Committee, which seeks to provide aid and resources for people affected by humanitarian crises, recently opened a branch in Iowa City to continue working with refugees and immigrants.
Here’s what you need to know about the organization and its newest location:
What is the International Rescue Committee?
The International Rescue Committee — or IRC for short — has offered assistance programs to millions of people in more than 50 countries and 28 U.S. cities, according to its website. Founded in 1933, the nonprofit splits its mission into five key focus areas:
Health
Safety
Education
Empowerment
Economic well-being
Uplifting women and girls
In 2022, the organization reported reaching nearly 33 million people affected by humanitarian crises with the help of its partnered agencies. That year, organization leaders said they:
Admitted 453,344 children and 106,722 pregnant people to nutrition programs.
Built or restored water supplies serving more than 3 million people.
Distributed more than $100 million in cash or vouchers to people in need.
Provided counseling to nearly 43,000 women who survived acts of gender-based violence.
When did IRC arrive in Des Moines?
IRC opened its Des Moines office on 108 Third St. in June 2022 to further grow the organization and reach clients in the Midwest, said Executive Director Sarah Terlouw and Development Manager Cassie Kilgore.
The first 90 days for newly arrived refugees is especially crucial in the resettlement process, Terlouw explained. The goal is to help them become “selfreliant,” she said.
Terlouw and her staff worked closely with individuals and families to find their footing in Iowa and rebuild their lives.
They would pick them up from the airports and bring them to their new homes, which staff and other volunteers found and furnished with necessities.
They also help them find employment, proper medical care and English classes. School enrollment, applications for benefits, case management, job readiness training and cultural orientation are also among the services IRC provides.
Why the move to Iowa City?
Terlouw and Kilgore said IRC’s move to open an office in Iowa City was “a natural choice,” especially as they and other staff anticipate the arrival of at least 100 refugees in the coming months. Staff and local church volunteers welcomed a Sudanese man last month to Iowa City and helped him move into his new home, Kilgore said. Volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints filled the man’s home and many others with furniture such as beds and dressers.
Staff so far have helped resettle more than half of 425 clients in Des Moines and surrounding areas, Kilgore said. IRC Iowa staff have welcomed clients from Afghanistan, Burma, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Syria. Kilgore said her colleagues are currently working with their first client — a family — from Venezuela.
Terlouw and Kilgore noted Iowa City’s proximity to university hospitals and clinics, the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids where new arrivals may be landing, and “good schools” with programs devoted to teaching children English.
Another plus: The city itself is racially diverse and existing immigrant communities, with most families from Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Terlouw said.
There’s also a large Spanish-speaking population.
How to get involved
Kilgore said there is a wide range of opportunities available for volunteers. They can help staff with administrative tasks, parents enroll their children in local schools, provide transportation for individuals and families, or set bank accounts for new arrivals. Monetary donations are also accepted.
Volunteer opportunities with IRC’s Des Moines office are up online at www.rescue.org/volunteer-opportunities/des-moines-ia. Opportunities in Iowa City are forthcoming, but Kilgore said those with questions are encouraged to email iowa@rescue.org or call 515-216-3619.