Please help us support refugee families and continue to keep Oregon a welcoming state for our newly arrived brothers and sisters. Catholic Charities of Oregon has several ways to get involved. Check out some of our volunteer opportunities with refugees and refugee families:
Archive
Digital inclusion program for refugees and immigrants offers language skill-building and access to online tools
The Digital Inclusion for Refugees and Immigrants (DIRI) program helps new and recently arrived refugee families by providing them with refurbished desktops or laptops and with a one-year subscription to Rosetta Stone language subscription software.
Refugee Employment Services Program (ESP) gives newly settled Oregonians hope and stability after hardship
Going on its fifth year now, the Refugee Services Employment Services Program (ESP) is a rapid employment program for newly arrived refugees. Rapid employment means that refugees in this program must find a job within six months of their arrival in Oregon. During that time, Catholic Charities covers their bills, including their electric and water…
Catholic Charities' Refugee Services creates COVID-19 Team to increase access to vaccines
Oregon has a diverse and growing refugee and migrant community. Refugees and migrants make up 10% of the Oregon population, and an additional 11% of Oregonians have at least one immigrant parent. Most refugees in Oregon came from the Ukraine, Somalia, Myanmar, Iraq, Bhutan, Russia, Moldova, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. Oregon…
Advancing refugee resettlement work through partnerships
At Catholic Charities of Oregon, we are happy to partner with Lutheran Community Services Northwest, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, and our partners in Oregon’s Refugee Resettlement Collaborative to advance advocacy issues for immigrants and refugees in Oregon.
Refugee Services: Giving justice, dignity, and hope to our newest neighbors
Catholic Charities of Oregon is committed to helping refugees rebuild their lives in their new homes. That commitment stems from a core Catholic teaching that every human being is created in the image of God and is, therefore, entitled to human dignity and respect. As the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops states, “The Catholic…
Father Dan Groody encourages reflection, empathy, and oneness
June is Refugee Awareness Month with World Refugee Week taking place June 14-20, leading to World Refugee Day on June 20. In honor of the courage, strength and determination of women, men, and children who are forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict, and violence, we interviewed Father Dan Groody—Holy Cross Priest,…
Donor appreciation spotlight: M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust
We are fortunate to have generous donors and volunteers who give their time, energy, support and resources to Catholic Charities. As part of our donor and volunteer appreciation campaign, we are recognizing individuals and organizations who share God’s love and who help to spread light by partnering with us. Because of them, we are able…
Disaster preparedness tips: Sheltering in place and in shelters
In a disaster you may be asked to either evacuate or shelter in place. In the excitement of an emergency, focusing on what you need to do can be difficult. Here’s how to keep your family safe:
Salada's Strength
Imagine having to flee your home at a moment’s notice after suffering extreme physical violence, leaving with nothing but the clothes on your back and your surviving family members. Imagine walking for 20 days along environments unknown, often dangerous, searching for shelter, food, water, and safety. Then imagine enduring all of that without knowing how…
Catholic Charities welcomes Chef Jon Wirtis
Chef Jon Wirtis is Catholic Charities of Oregon’s new Executive Chef/Instructor. His two passions are food and people. Like Catholic Charities, Chef Jon believes food, the very thing that sustains our bodies, can also be the foundation for sustaining and transforming our local communities. One of Chef Jon’s main duties in his role as Executive…
Donor Appreciation Spotlight: Jacqueline Jensen
We are fortunate to have extremely generous donors and volunteers who give their time, energy, support and resources to Catholic Charities. As part of our donor and volunteer appreciation campaign, we are recognizing individuals and organizations who share God’s love and spread Christ’s light by partnering with Catholic Charities. Because of them, we are able…
Remarks from Catholic Charities’ Executive Director at Multi-faith Prayer Service for the Zomi Community
On April 17, 2021, Catholic Charities of Oregon and Zomi Catholic Community Portland (ZCCP) hosted a multi-faith prayer service for the Zomi community. Leaders from the Catholic, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, and other Christian denominations joined the Zomi community in Oregon and other refugee communities, as well as Catholic Charities of Oregon, state senators and local…