A look at our current needs for refugees in St. Louis:

🛠 Often, our refugee families are in need of basic household tools to make repairs around their house. If you have new or used tools to donate, email Kayla at [email protected] to coordinate a drop off at our office.

🥘 We need shelving to organize our Supper Club supplies. Shelves donated off our Amazon Wishlist will be shipped directly to us! Click the link in our bio to view our wishlist!

🚗 We need volunteers to drive refugees to appointments. This role can be as flexible as you like—volunteer as often or as occasionally as your schedule allows! We try to provide as much notice as possible. Email Laura at [email protected] to volunteer.

📚 Many of our female refugee students prefer having a female teacher, and we want to help them feel comfortable as they begin the journey of learning a new language! The tutor and student will meet once a week in the student’s home for approximately an hour. Curriculum materials will be provided as well as additional resources. Email Lucy at [email protected] if you`re interested in volunteering!

💻 Our ESL students use a laptop for their ESL classes and our refugee students use laptops for tutoring. Email Lucy at [email protected] if you have a used laptop we can donate to a refugee in one of our programs.

💜 Thank you for supporting our new refugee neighbors!

What does $50 do?

✔️ Buys supplies for an ESL tutor
✔️ Provides groceries for a family
✔️ Provides translators

Your donation = direct, local impact.

This World Refugee Day, help us reach our goal and continue building opportunities for our newest neighbors.

➡️ Donate today to our World Refugee Day Campaign at the link in our bio

🚨 New Travel Ban Takes Effect — Here’s Why It Matters

On June 9, a new travel ban went into effect—blocking people from 19 countries from entering the U.S.

Many of these countries—like Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, and Yemen—are facing war, political upheaval, or humanitarian crises. Now, for thousands, the door to safety just slammed shut.

💔 This ban doesn’t stop everyone—but it slows hope. It complicates family reunification. It interrupts private sponsorship programs. And it sends a chilling message to refugees who already call America home.

At Welcome Neighbor STL, we’re doubling down.

While policies shift, our mission stays firm: to support, uplift, and welcome those who are already here—building new lives in St. Louis after unthinkable journeys.

Now more than ever, we need you.

📢 Donate today to our World Refugee Day initiative, and help us provide ESL classes, family partners, job pathways, cultural connection, therapeutic groups, academic tutoring, and a true sense of home. Donate at the link in our bio 🔗

Imagine starting over with nothing but courage.

No belongings. No job. No English. Just the hope of safety and a fresh start.

That’s the reality for refugees resettling in St. Louis.

At Welcome Neighbor STL, we walk alongside refugee families starting over. 💜

Now is the time to stand up and and make a difference in the lives of refugees in our city. Donate today at the link in our bio 🔗

Tom is a family partner to two refugee families! He shares a look into his story:

“They came here with literally nothing but the clothes they were wearing, but they were always optimistic and positive. They quickly found jobs and are becoming ideal Americans! So hard-working and well aware of the great opportunities the U.S. has to offer.

Another great moment was when one mother gave birth to a son, and the other mother gave birth to a daughter. What a blessing it was to have these new children as part of our country!

It was so rewarding to hold their hands when they first arrived in November 2022 and help them build their lives here in St. Louis. The fact that our visits are almost purely social now is a testament to their ability to create a new life in a new country and become self-sufficient!”

💜 Help us continue to support refugees in St. Louis and donate fund the future at the link in our bio 🔗

💜 Who Is a Refugee?

A refugee is not just a statistic—they are someone who made the unimaginable choice to leave everything behind.

They are parents protecting their children from war. Neighbors who once had homes, businesses, and dreams—now starting over in an unfamiliar place.
Refugees flee their home countries because of war, persecution, or political upheaval.

Some return when it`s safe. Many remain in temporary settlements. But only a small fraction resettle in a third country like the United States.

📍 In 2024, Missouri welcomed 3,272 refugees, with most resettled in St. Louis and Kansas City. These families are now rebuilding their lives - with help from neighbors like you.

At Welcome Neighbor STL, we support these families through ESL tutoring, family partners, job opportunities through Supper Clubs, academic tutoring for kids, job assistance, therapeutic support groups, and more. But we can’t do it alone.

💛 Help us create a stronger welcome. Donate today at the link in our bio as part of our "A Table for All: Fund the Future" initiative.

🍽 We’ll close the campaign with a special International Supper Club meal at our NEW office on World Refugee Day - a joyful celebration of culture, connection, and new beginnings. The meal will be on Friday, June 20 at 5:30pm at First Unitarian Church (5007 Waterman Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108). Grab your friends and get tickets in our bio!