Aid Cedar Rapids refugees & immigrants
Donation protected
The Aug. 10 derecho storm in Cedar Rapids deeply affected the lives of recently settled African and Haitian refugees and immigrants, who survived for several days outside of their ruined homes with no safe food, shelter, transportation or disaster aid until private citizens in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines learned of their struggles.
Through social media, a volunteer force led by Nancy Mwirotsi raised an incredible amount of supplies in a short amount of time to address immediate needs, but we have a long road to walk to help families find safe, permanent housing, transportation and other necessities. By Aug. 20, some individuals still struggled to find emergency shelter. Furniture and clothes will need to be replaced, baby and childcare supplies bought.
We ask you actively give as you are able -- all funding goes directly to supplies for families; donations collected are handled by the Intercultural Center of Iowa . You may also buy directly from our public Amazon Wishlist; please choose the address provided to send items.
VIEW OUR AMAZON WISHLIST TO SEND SUPPLIES
HIGH NEED:
Masks/hand sanitizer for about 200 families
Personal care toiletries
Towels
Socks/underwear
VIDEO: Nancy Mwirotsi and Aubrey Alvarez walk viewers through destroyed apartments
(Photos by Aubrey Alvarez)
PARTNERS:
Pi515
The Intercultural Center of Iowa
The Catherine McAuley Center
Urban Dreams/Des Moines Black Lives Matter
We are exceptionally grateful to friends and family who have volunteered on the ground and supported this work financially!
MEDIA COVERAGE:
Pleas come from Cedar Rapids complex (KCRG)
Lack of help after Iowa derecho felt like being back at refugee camps (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
Des Moines volunteers see firsthand destruction at Cedar Rapids apartments (Des Moines Business Record)
A week after the derecho many struggle to find shelter for Cedar Rapids refugees (Des Moines Register)
Des Moines volunteers angered by what they saw in Cedar Rapids (Iowa Starting Line)
Through social media, a volunteer force led by Nancy Mwirotsi raised an incredible amount of supplies in a short amount of time to address immediate needs, but we have a long road to walk to help families find safe, permanent housing, transportation and other necessities. By Aug. 20, some individuals still struggled to find emergency shelter. Furniture and clothes will need to be replaced, baby and childcare supplies bought.
We ask you actively give as you are able -- all funding goes directly to supplies for families; donations collected are handled by the Intercultural Center of Iowa . You may also buy directly from our public Amazon Wishlist; please choose the address provided to send items.
VIEW OUR AMAZON WISHLIST TO SEND SUPPLIES
HIGH NEED:
Masks/hand sanitizer for about 200 families
Personal care toiletries
Towels
Socks/underwear
VIDEO: Nancy Mwirotsi and Aubrey Alvarez walk viewers through destroyed apartments
(Photos by Aubrey Alvarez)
PARTNERS:
Pi515
The Intercultural Center of Iowa
The Catherine McAuley Center
Urban Dreams/Des Moines Black Lives Matter
We are exceptionally grateful to friends and family who have volunteered on the ground and supported this work financially!
MEDIA COVERAGE:
Pleas come from Cedar Rapids complex (KCRG)
Lack of help after Iowa derecho felt like being back at refugee camps (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
Des Moines volunteers see firsthand destruction at Cedar Rapids apartments (Des Moines Business Record)
A week after the derecho many struggle to find shelter for Cedar Rapids refugees (Des Moines Register)
Des Moines volunteers angered by what they saw in Cedar Rapids (Iowa Starting Line)
Organizer and beneficiary
Kate Hayden
Organizer
Des Moines, IA
Sylvain Lukama
Beneficiary
