We're five friends in West Philly supporting a refugee family as they resettle in Philadelphia. We've taken on this joy and challenge as "community sponsors" through the Welcome Corps initiative, a program created in 2023 by the State Department. The program gives Americans a route to directly offer a hand — our own time, resources and community — to refugees who will soon be our neighbors. Welcome Corps matches a group of community sponsors with refugees, and that group then becomes responsible for helping them build a new life in the United States.

Our group of friends will be at the airport when the family arrives. We'll have a meal ready for them. We'll help them secure housing, buy food, pay for utilities, learn English or job skills, enroll their kids in school and access services to help them start their new life here. One hundred percent of the money you donate will go directly to the family for things like rent, clothing and school supplies. Help us welcome our new neighbors like they're old friends. No donation is too big or too small!