Latter-day Saint Charities Gives $5 Million To U.S. Refugee Resettlement Agencies
Jun 3, 2021, 5:06 PM
(Used by permission, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)
(Used by permission, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Latter-day Saint Charities announced it is donating $5 million to nine different refugee settlement agencies.
The charitable arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Thursday that the money is expected to help more than 9,000 refugees and immigrants with things like basic living expenses, job training, and supplemental education for kids.
Latter-day Saint Charities said it is working with 190 organizations that are affiliated with the following nine resettlement agencies in the United States:
- The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- International Rescue Committee (IRC)
- U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)
- Church World Service
- Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)
- Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS)
- Episcopal Migration Ministries
- Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC)
- World Relief
Latter-day Saint Charities is continuing its financial support for nine refugee resettlement agencies in the United States through a series of grants totaling US$5 million in 2021.https://t.co/iSDQG2PUGX
— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (@Ch_JesusChrist) June 3, 2021
Alicia Wrenn, senior director of resettlement and integration with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society said Latter-day Saint Charities “Has been an incredible friend and partner” over the years through cash donations and commodities from Deseret Manufacturing and the bishops’ storehouse.
Wren added that the bulk of this donation will help refugees address emergency and technology needs, mostly related to challenges they face as the economic recovery continues following the pandemic.
“Having a reserve to support those clients who have lingering obstacles to gaining employment with their food needs or rent needs or medical expenses will be life-altering for some clients,” she said.
The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants will use the funds to give refugees immediate financial relief and job training due to the pandemic, natural disasters and other emergencies.
“This generous grant from Latter-day Saint Charities will help us immensely in providing newly resettled refugees with the material assistance and support services they need to launch their new lives here in the U.S.,” said USCRI CEO Eskinder Negash. “This grant means that our new neighbors will receive furnished housing and be connected to benefits and support services including upward mobility support and training.”
