Shared Stories Fundraiser

Thursday, May 9, 2024: World Food Prize Hall of Laureates

Doors Open/Cocktail Hour: 6 PM

Program/Dinner: 7 PM – 10PM

General Admission & Sponsor Tickets

Des Moines Refugee Support is thrilled to announce we will be hosting our first-ever fundraising event, featuring honorary guest and keynote speaker Suku Radia.

When relocating to the U.S., refugees typically receive only three months of assistance. Des Moines Refugee Support aims to fill in the assistance gaps for refugees in the Des Moines area; in the eight years since our founding, our efforts to provide support have increased significantly. The money raised through this event will go directly to our programs that help our newest neighbors, some of which include:

• Practical Support: Volunteers donate thousands of hours filling out job/education/health/immigration paperwork, providing transportation to doctor and citizenship appointments, school registrations and food pantry visits. Volunteers regularly gather and distribute clothing and living essentials.
• Back to School Store: Held at Drake University with the help of Broadlawns and many corporate sponsors, we provide everything needed for back to school, including: dental/vision checks, sports physicals, haircuts, school supplies and clothing. In 2023, we helped more than 500 children from 154 families.
• Women of the World: DMRS is the catalyst that supported several refugee women to sell cottage food products at the Valley Junction Farmers Market in 2023.
• School Transportation: Purchase DART passes for students who do not have reliable transportation to school and live too close for transportation through Des Moines Public Schools.
• Pre-School: Sign-up and provide daily transportation to our smallest refugee friends, ensuring they have a strong educational foundation before elementary school.
• Soccer: Provide transportation and pay fees for more than 100 children from refugee families who play for The Des Moines Soccer Club. Students learn accountability, leadership & team work through sport!

While this all sounds like a lot for one little non-profit with one full-time employee, one thing that we have in surplus is momentum and the infrastructure of volunteers to help our newest Iowans. Please consider contributing as an event sponsor and attending the fundraiser to learn more about Des Moines Refugee Support. The event will include a short program about who we are and the community that we serve.

General Admission & Sponsor Tickets

Contact us for more information contact us at events@dsmrefugeesupport.org