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.

Thank You for Joining Us at the 2024 Picnic!

Posted by Alex

There was so much to do at this year’s picnic! Thank you all for joining in.

Four Music Acts

Forward Marching Band kicks things off!

Gloria Hays at the Open Doors for Refugees Potluck Picnic — Gloria Hays encouraged some collaborative music making.

People dancing to Yid Vicious at the Open Doors for Refugees Potluck Picnic — And Yid Vicious encouraged dancing.

The Front Porch String Band closes things out.

Delicious Food

A food line at the Open Doors for Refugees Potluck Picnic — Lots of unique dishes…

A buffet table at the Open Doors for Refugees Potluck Picnic — And plenty of pizza!

And Plenty of Activities!

A guest table at the Open Doors for Refugees Potluck Picnic

Arts and crafts at the Open Doors for Refugees Potluck Picnic

A big thank-you goes to Syrcus Lomombe for the photos!

Finally, a big thank-you to this year’s sponsors!

Host Sponsor

Advocate Sponsors

Ally Sponsor

In Partnership With

In-Kind Sponsors

Looking to Sponsor in 2025?