Imagine closing the front door to your home behind you, and not knowing if or when you’ll ever return. This is exactly what has happened to the nearly 80 million people around the world who’ve been forced to flee their homes due to war, violence, grinding poverty, and even climate change. That’s the equivalent of 20 people per minute every day, a scale that’s almost unimaginable.
Hopes and wishes aren’t going to solve a problem of this magnitude. Millions of people, many of them children, are seeking shelter and safety. They have been through experiences most of us cannot even begin to imagine. They only want what we all want: A safe place to call home, food on their tables, healthcare so that they can see a doctor if they’re sick.
We’re calling for systemic changes in three areas that will ensure all refugees are treated with respect, fairness, and justice.
We know firsthand the tremendous contributions that refugees make to their communities. We’re proud of our partner, Rhino Foods, maker of the amazing cookie dough chunks you know and love, who has been helping refugees find a home right here in Vermont for more than 20 years. Rhino started hiring refugees back in the 1990s when a wave of Bosnian refugees were being resettled in Vermont. The timing was perfect, in that Rhino was doubling the size of their staff to meet the demand for cookie dough. Our friends at Rhino understand that welcoming refugees is the right thing to do. It’s what America has done throughout our history.
We don’t have all the answers, but we do know that if we all work together, we can make a big difference in the lives of millions of people. In the current political climate, your voice is more important than ever. Let’s stand together for refugees, so that all the world’s people have a home, safe home.
Our friends at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) help people whose lives and livelihoods have been shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and regain control of their future.
Read more about all their amazing work here.
The International Rescue Committee helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and regain control of their future.