The Missoula Organization of REALTORS® (MOR) is pleased to partner with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) of Missoula to host a Summer Camp Kit Drive to provide refugee youth with the items they need to attend and thrive at local day-camps this summer.
From May 13 to May 17, the Missoula community is invited to drop off the following items at the MOR office (724 Burlington Ave, Missoula, MT 59801) between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm (please only new items):
- Reusable water bottles
- Sunscreen
- Hats
- Swim goggles
- Beach towels
- Lunch boxes
To end out the week, MOR and the IRC will be hosting a “Stuff the Van” event on Friday, May 17th from 10am to 3pm, also at MOR’s office.
Every year, the IRC in Missoula works to ensure that summer camp is accessible to refugee youth as it is an important opportunity for them to meet friends, integrate into their community, and build language and social skills that prepare them for success during the school year. With their children engaging in safe and structured programs, parents are able to focus on employment, earning income, and working towards financial stability.
“Beyond the high financial cost of attending summer camp, kids often need extra gear to ensure summer camp is successful, which adds additional barriers,” said Sarah Howerton, Development Manager for IRC of Missoula. “This Summer Camp Kit Drive will provide refugee youth with the items they need to be safe and focus on one thing, having fun this summer.”
Additionally, funds may be donated directly to the IRC (click here) from May 13 – May 17 and will be used for camp fees and additional supplies to keep summer camp affordable and accessible for refugee youth.
The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC works in more than 50 countries and in 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future, and strengthen their communities. In Missoula, the IRC in Missoula provides case management, housing, employment, legal, education, and health care navigation services to newly arriving refugees and eligible immigrants. Since opening in 2017, the IRC in Missoula has resettled over 700 refugees, primarily from Syria, Afghanistan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Learn more at www.rescue.org and follow the IRC on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook. Learn more about the IRC in Missoula at rescue.org/Missoula and Facebook.”