Open Doors for Refugees

Helping refugees make a home in the Madison area

About
- Who We Are
  - Open Doors for Refugees
    Open Doors for Refugees is a volunteer-driven organization based in Madison, Wisconsin whose mission is to help refugees make a home in the Madison area.
- Who Are Refugees?
  - Who are Refugees?
    People who have fled their country to escape persecution, violence, or war are refugees.
    Refugees in Wisconsin
    Between 2019 and 2021, 1,254 refugees have settled in Wisconsin.
- Community Resources
  - Community Resources
  - Legal Resources
  - Jobs
  - Rent / Billing Assistance
  - Healthcare
  - Food
  - Transportation
  - Internet
  - Diapers & Menstrual Care
  - ESL
- Our Partners
  - Partnering Organizations
    A huge thanks goes to these neighboring organizations that make it possible for us to fulfill our mission.
- Contact Us
  - Contact Us
    General: [email protected]
    
    Donate Furniture and Household Items: [email protected]
    
    Volunteering Inquiries: [email protected]
    
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OpenDoorsForRefugees/
- DEI Statement
  - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    Everything we do is designed to help refugees overcome challenges in housing, employment, culture, and language (to name a few), ultimately making Madison a place of greater equity and inclusion.
    Read our full statement.
What We Do
- Upcoming Meetings & Events
  - Upcoming Meetings
    We regularly host and partake in community events to support our newest neighbors.
    Upcoming Events
    We host a series of events throughout the year.
- Programs
  - Our Programs
    We have a variety of programs that directly benefit refugees.
  - Home Setup for Recent Arrivals
  - Transportation (rides)
  - Bus System Training
  - Free Bikes for Adults & Kids
  - ESL Tutoring & Mentorship
  - Childcare for Afghan Moms Learning ESL
  - Childcare Support for Health & Wellness Classes
  - Rental Assistance for Recent Arrivals
  - Winter Wear
  - Food Gift Cards for Recent Arrivals
  - Sewing Machines & Supplies
  - Events
Newsletters & Articles
- Past Newsletters
  - Past Newsletters
    Every month, Open Doors for Refugees releases a newsletter.
    Sign up to begin receiving email updates every other month.
- Open Doors in the News
  - Open Doors in the News
    A timeline of articles and other media that reference our work.
- Refugee Stories
- Community Updates
  - Community Updates
    News posts about ODFR and our interactions with the local community and updates about past ODFR events.
- World News
  - World News
    Posts about current world affairs.
- Special Topics
  - Special Topics
    Posts that go into detail about major world events and other important topics. We tend to keep these updated over time.

A Fall Potluck in the Park

Posted by Alex

This is regarding the 2024 picnic!

June 22, 2025 Picnic Details

A full house at the pavillion

Join Open Doors for Refugees at the annual community potluck picnic, which will feature family-friendly activities, delicious food, and live music entertainment, providing a perfect opportunity for resettled refugees and long-term Madison residents to come together and build community.

Sunday, September 15
from 12pm to 4pm

Olin Park – 1156 Olin-Turville Ct
Madison, WI 53715

Activities

Madison Reading Project
League of Women Voters of Dane County
Warda Bayda’s Crafts
Soccer
The Giant Parachute
Crafts
Dance Lessons
And, of course, food!

Learn more: Activities at the Potluck

Music Acts

Forward Marching Band
Gloria Hays
Yid Vicious
Front Porch String Band

Learn more: Music Acts at the Potluck

Help out with the potluck!

Bring a food dish to share or volunteer your time with us.

Contact [email protected] or use the link below to sign up as a volunteer!

Volunteer at the Picnic

Host Sponsor

Advocate Sponsors

Ally Sponsor

In Partnership With

In-Kind Sponsors

Looking to Sponsor in 2025?

Photos from Last Year’s Picnic

Kids playing under a giant parachute

A kid scoring a goal